The Keystone exams will soon replace the PSSAs and take over every public high school in the state. The Keystone exams will also soon be a requirement to graduate from high school.
According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), "the Keystone exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content. The exams are designed to measure the state’s Common Core Standards, which, a PDE document states, are aligned toward college and workplace success."
Starting with the class of 2015, new high school graduation requirements will help ensure that Pennsylvania’s students are prepared for college and career, according to the PDE's Standards Aligned Systems.
According to the PDE's Standard Aligned Systems, students are required to complete one of the following pathways for each main subject:
- Successful completion of courses in which a Keystone Exam serves as the final exam and counts for at least one-third of the course mark; or
- Demonstration of proficiency on independently-validated local assessment systems; or
- Demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam used as a stand-alone graduation requirement a given content area; for additional information on this option, please review the State Board of Education’s policy guidance; or
- Demonstration of proficiency on an Advanced Placement or International Baccalaureate Exam.
The Haverford School Board will discuss the implications and consequences of the Keystone exams on Thursday night at 7:30 p.m. in the Haverford High School auditorium. The presentation will be made by Assistant Superintendent Nicholas Rotoli.
