INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (PDE)

The annual Pennsylvania System School Assessment is a standards-based, criterion-referenced assessment which provides students, parents, educators and citizens with an understanding of student and school performance related to the attainment of proficiency of the academic standards.  These standards in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science and Technology identify what a student should know and be able to do at varying grade levels.  School districts possess the freedom to design curriculum and instruction to ensure that students meet or exceed the standards' expectations.

Individual student scores, provided only to their respective schools, can be used to assist teachers in identifying students who may be in need of additional educational opportunities, and school scores provide information to schools and districts for curriculum and instruction improvement discussions and planning.

In compliance with  §4.51(a)(4) of the PA School Code the State Board of Education approved, "specific criteria for advanced, proficient, basic and below basic levels of performance."

For more information on the PSSA visit:

http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/PSSA/Pages/default.aspx

INFORMATION PROVIDED BY THE PENNSYLVANIA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

In February of 2016, Governor Tom Wolf signed Senate Bill 880 into law which delays the graduation requirement associated with the state’s end-of-course tests, known as the Keystone Exams, for two years, until the 2019-2020 school year. 

In addition, Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 202, known as Act 6, into law. The bill amends the Public School Code to allow students in career and technology education (CTE) to demonstrate proficiency and readiness for high school graduation in an alternative pathway, and removes the statutory requirement for the Keystone Exam on that student population.  

The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Literature, English Composition, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, World History, and Civics and Government.  Beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, Keystone Exams in the following subjects were developed by the Department and made available for use by school districts, AVTSs and charter schools, including cyber charter schools:

Algebra I
Literature
Biology

Subject to funding appropriated by the General Assembly for development of the exams and related project-based assessments and validation of related local assessments, Keystone Exams in other subjects will be developed by the Department and made available for use by school districts, AVTSs and charter schools, including cyber charter schools. 

The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania's new system of high school graduation requirements. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards.

For more information regarding the Keystone Exams visit:

http://www.education.pa.gov/K-12/Assessment%20and%20Accountability/Pages/Keystone-Exams.aspx