Keystone Exams
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. This measure reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.
The Keystone exams meet the federal accountability criteria of ESSA for the high school level. Students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability. Failure to do so will affect a Local Education Agency (LEA) and school's participation rate.
The Keystone exams were created to replace the Grade 11 PSSA and serve as one component of Pennsylvania's statewide high school graduation requirement. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards. The exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.
Learn more about Pennsylvania’s statewide graduation requirements.
Getting Ready for 2021
District Assessment Coordinator Training for 2021
The 2021 Keystone Exams Training will only be via PowerPoint and not a live webinar.
Keystone
Exams Waiver - Impacts on LEA Practices
Access
guidance on Keystone end-of-course exams (Keystone Exams) in the context of
the pandemic of 2020, federal assessment and accountability requirements for
the 2019-20 school year, and Act 13 of 2020 (Act 13).