Keystone Testing Overview/Exam Resources
Council Rock High School North
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in various subjects. Students are required to take the Keystone Exams in Algebra, Biology and Literature as part of the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act. During the 2021-2022 school year the following Keystone Exams will be given: Algebra 1, Literature and Biology. Students enrolled in Algebra 1, Biology and English 10 will take the Keystone exam in May. In November 2020, Pennsylvania passed Act 136. This law amends when the timeline begins for the use of various graduation pathways rather than relying on single tests as the only graduation requirement. With the passage of Act 136, the graduating class of 2023 will be the first class who will be able to demonstrate readiness for college and career through various options. The graduating classes of 2021 and 2022 are not required to pass the Keystone exams in order to graduate. Although students will still take the Keystone exams in Algebra, Biology, and Literature as part of federal requirements, they will have other pathways to meet state graduation requirements. More details regarding these options are forthcoming from the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
STATE AND FEDERAL ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS
As part of the Federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), the Keystone Exams remain as end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in Algebra, Biology, and Literature. Students must take the exams for purposes of federal accountability. However, according to Act 158 of 2018 students are no longer required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams to meet statewide graduation requirements.
Therefore, the graduating class of 2022 is not required to pass the Keystone exams to graduate. They must still take the Keystone exams in Algebra, Biology, and Literature as part of federal accountability requirements.
Beginning with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate proficiency through one of five pathways:
- Keystone Proficiency: Demonstrate proficiency on each of the three exams (Algebra, Biology, Literature)
- Keystone Composite: Earn a combined score of 4452 or better in aggregate for the three Keystone Exams. Students must take all three exams to qualify for this pathway
- Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrator:
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Required |
One of the Following Options |
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● Demonstrate completion of Keystone trigger course associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not demonstrate proficiency |
● Attainment of an Industry-Based Competency Certification related to CTE program of study, ● Demonstrate high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment no later than by the end of 11th grade, or the first semester of 12th grade if enrolled in a 1-year program, ● Demonstrate readiness for continued meaningful engagement in CTE Program of Study no later than the end of 11th grade, or the first semester of 12th grade if enrolled in a 1-year program |
4. Alternative Assessment:
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Required |
One of the Following Options |
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● Demonstrate completion of Keystone trigger course associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not demonstrate proficiency |
● Attain an established score on an approved alternative assessment, ● Attain an established score on an advanced placement program exam in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam, ● Successful completion of a concurrent enrollment course in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam ● Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program ● Acceptance in an accredited non-profit institution of higher education and evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework. |
5. Evidence-Based: Demonstrate completion of Keystone trigger course associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not demonstrate proficiency AND provide three pieces of evidence as noted below.
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Section 1 (Must have 1 piece of evidence from this section) |
Section 2 |
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● Attain an established score on the ACT Workkeys ● Attain an established score on an SAT subject test ● Attain an established score on an advanced placement exam ● Attain an established score on an IB program exam ● Successful completion of a concurrent enrollment course ● Successful completion of a postsecondary course ● Attain an industry-recognized credential ● Accepted to an accredited other-than-4-year non-profit institution of higher education with evidence of ability to enroll in college-level credit-bearing coursework |
● Attain a score of proficient or advanced on a Keystone Exam ● Satisfactory completion of an approved service-learning project ● Certificate of successful completion of an internship, externship, or cooperative education program ● Satisfactory compliance with the NCAA core courses for college-bound student athletes ● Guarantee of full-time employment |