Keystone
assessments are end-of-the-course assessments designed to measure mastery of
the standards in various subjects: Algebra I, Biology and Literature. A student
can now be assessed in Grades 7 through 11 depending upon when he/she received
the Keystone course content for each subject.
Beginning
with the Class of 2019 - 2020, all students will be required to pass the
Keystone Exams or the state-developed graduation project in order to graduate.
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires any non-proficient student to
be remediated in the corresponding Keystone content area(s) and retest any
test(s) in which he/she has not scored proficient or advanced.
Any
student who fails to score proficient on the Keystone Exams is permitted to
retake the Keystone Exams as many times as he/she wishes through the end of the
11th grade year. The student’s best overall score, a combination of both
Module 1 and Module 2, may be derived from multiple test administrations.
We feel
strongly that our students are well prepared for these assessments, but we do
need your assistance. If your student has a Keystone Exam scheduled on any
of the dates listed above, please encourage them to do their absolute
best. A good night’s sleep beforehand and breakfast are helpful for
ensuring optimal performance as well.
Students
taking a Keystone Exam must report on the test days at the normal time, by 7:37
AM. WSSD transportation will be running on its normal schedule. Students not
being assessed may report for school at 10:07 AM on testing days if
they can acquire personal transportation.
We have
included a few links from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that may
assist you with any questions you have regarding the Keystone Exams:
PDE Keystone Assessment Information
Keystone Exam Design Overview
Parents/Guardians may choose opt out of the Keystone Exam for religious reasons only. If choosing to exercise this option, parents/guardians should contact Cedar Cliff High School prior to their student's Keystone exam to schedule an appointment to preview the testing materials.