Keystone Exam
The Keystone Exam is a Pennsylvania standardized test administered to the public schools of Pennsylvania, United States. The test has been developed by the Commonwealth of Pennylvania Department of Education. During the 2012-2013 school year, the Literature, Biology, and Algebra I Keystone Exams are available.[1] According to the Department of Education, groups of educators from across the state decided what content should be covered in the exams.[2]
Transition
The Keystone Exam has replaced the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA)standardized tests fully for all public school students for secondary school. In the 2012-2013 school year, secondary schools began the transition from the PSSA test to the Keystone Exam.[3]
Graduation Requirement
The Keystone Exams in Algebra 1 CP, Biology CP, and Literature are now a graduation requirement for Pennsylvania students graduating in 2017 and after. [4]
Students who are not proficient on each of these three exams will be required to complete a Project Based Assessment. [5] These Project Based Assessments are completed by the student using an online portal created by the Pennsylvania Department of Education, [6] For additional information visit the PDE SAS Portal under reference 5. These projects are required for students graduating in 2017 or after. Prior to this graduating class, individual school districts determined the remedial assessment for students who were not proficient on the state exams.