Keystone Exams

The Keystone Exams are state-mandated end-of-course assessments in Algebra I, Biology and Literature. At the high school level, they are used to satisfy the requirements of the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).

Each Keystone Exam is divided into two parts called modules. Student scores are based on the total points earned from the two modules combined. The scores are then broken down into the following categories: Advanced, Proficient, Basic and Below Basic. Students must score in the Advanced or Proficient range to show mastery of the content.

If you have questions about the administration or scheduling of Keystone exams, please contact Assistant Principal of Student Affairs Dr. Joseph MacNamara. If you have specific question about the Keystone exams, your child’s scores, the Pennsylvania Graduation Requirement, or the alternative pathways, contact Assistant Principal of Academic Affairs S ilvia Manoukian.

2023 Keystone Exam Information

The Spring 2023 Session of the Keystone Exams will be held May 15 – 23 and will begin promptly at 8:30 A.M. on each testing day. Please encourage your child to arrive on time. Homeroom attendance will occur during the testing session. We have allotted approximately 86 minutes for each testing module. Additionally, all students will have extended time should they not finish at the end of the 86 minutes.

These exams are state-wide assessments, and its data is used to inform educators on many different levels regarding the education that is provided to our children across the state. These standardized tests also give all members of your child’s team a data point to show growth in ability to perform within a standardized assessment environment. It provides your child with assessment knowledge, perseverance, and practice with assessments taking abilities.

The following students are scheduled to take the Spring 2023 Keystone Exams at Radnor High School:

Students enrolled in Algebra I during the 2022-2023 school year.
Students enrolled in Biology during the 2022-2023 school year.
Students enrolled in World Literature during the 2022-2023 school year.
Students enrolled in Integrated Global Issues during the 2022-2023 school year.

Below are the testing dates by exam. Our Keystone Testing Make-up Window will begin May 24 – 26.

Date	Cycle Day	Order of Periods	Exam
Monday, May 15^th	6	1, 2, 3, HR, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Algebra I – Module 1
Wednesday, May 17^th	7	3, 4, 1, HR, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8	Algebra I – Module 2
Thursday, May 18^th	10	7, 8, 1, HR, 2, 5, 6, 3, 4	Biology – Module 1
Friday, May 19^th	1	1, 2, 3, HR, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8	Biology – Module 2
Monday, May 22^nd	2	3, 4, 1, HR, 2, 5, 6, 7, 8	Literature – Module 1
Tuesday, May 23^rd	5	7, 8, 1, HR, 2, 5, 6, 3, 4	Literature – Module 2

Note: Bolded periods = Tested periods

At the conclusion of the Keystone exams, students will report directly to their regularly scheduled classes. If a student misses class due to their participation in a Keystone Exam, the absence will be excused. Students should check Schoology to see what work they missed and reach out to their teacher with questions.

Additional information regarding the Keystone Exams, various graduation pathways, and resources can be found below.

Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact Dr. MacNamara at Joseph.Macnamara@rtsd.org

Algebra I

Biology

Literature

Resources

For additional item and scoring samples, visit the PDE website.

Keystone Exams During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the statewide graduation requirement associated with Keystone proficiency has been postponed and now only applies to the Class of 2023 and beyond. For additional information, please see the Keystone Resource FAQ.

Class of 2023 and Beyond

Per Act 158, should any student in the Class of 2023 and below not achieve advanced or proficient on the Keystones, they can now meet the statewide graduation requirements by completing one of the following pathways. The information below was adapted from the PDE website on graduation requirements on October 6, 2022.

Pennsylvania Pathways to Graduation

Graduation Trail

Pathway #1

Keystone Proficiency: Students achieving a minimum scaled score of 1500 or better in each of the three Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Biology, and Literature) demonstrate Keystone Proficiency and meet statewide requirements for high school graduation.

Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

A student with a disability who is unable to satisfy pathway requirements but who satisfactorily completes a special education program is granted a diploma under Title 22 §4.24.

Keystone Remediation

Keystone remediation is no longer required for students who do not achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams. Please see the information about the five potential pathways students can follow to meet the Pennsylvania graduation requirement. We strongly encourage students to retake the Keystone exam a second time as the first pathway is the most efficient way to meet the graduation requirement.

Pathway #2

Keystone Composite Pathway: To qualify for the Keystone Composite Pathway, a student must have taken all three Keystone Exams and must have at least one Keystone Exam score of Proficient or Advanced and no Keystone Exam score of Below Basic.

As approved by the State Board of Education, students also must earn a satisfactory three composite score of 4452 or better in aggregate for the three Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Biology, and Literature) in order to fulfill the Keystone Composite requirements and meet statewide requirements for high school graduation.

Students who do not have a score in all three Keystone Exam areas (e.g., an EL student who did not participate in the Keystone Literature Exam or a student who did not participate in a Keystone Exam for religious reasons) do not qualify for either the Keystone Proficiency or Composite Pathways and must meet graduation requirements under the CTE Concentrator, Alternative Assessment, or Evidence-Based Pathways.

Awarded “proficient” scores cannot be used toward Pathway #2 and a three composite score of 4452. However, Act 55 of 2022 amends the Pennsylvania School Code to further assist students in meeting statewide high school graduation requirements. Effective immediately, any student may graduate via the Keystone two composite score pathway provided the student:

Earned a non-numeric Proficient in a Keystone Exam pursuant to Act 136 of 2020;
Successfully completes locally established, grade-based requirements for academic content associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student does not have a numeric or non-numeric score of Proficient/Advanced; and
Achieves a Keystone Composite score of 2939 or greater for two of the three Keystone Exams (calculated using the highest numerical scores attained by the student, neither of which may be Below Basic and at least one of which must be Proficient or better).

Pathway #3

Alternate Assessment: In addition to meeting local grade-based requirements for each Keystone Exam content area in which a student achieves less than Proficient, the student must also provide one (1) piece of evidence under this pathway:

Attainment of one alternative assessment score or better: ACT (21), ASVAB AFQT (31), PSAT/NMSQT (970), or SAT (1010)
Attainment of Gold Level or better on ACT WorkKeys
Attainment of 3 or better on AP Exam(s) related to each Keystone content area in which less than Proficient
Attainment of 4 or better on IB Exam(s) related to each Keystone content area in which less than Proficient
Successful completion of concurrent course(s) related to each Keystone content area in which less than Proficient
Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program
Acceptance into 4 yr Institution of Higher Education (IHE) for college-level coursework

Pathway #4

Evidence Based: In addition to meeting local grade-based requirements for each Keystone Exam content in which a student achieved less than Proficient, the student must provide three (3) pieces of evidence under this pathway:

Attainment of 630 or better on any SAT Subject Test
Attainment of Silver Level or better on ACT WorkKeys
Attainment of 3 or better on any AP Exam
Attainment of 3 or better on any IB Exam
Successful completion of any concurrent or postsecondary course
Industry-recognized credentialization
Acceptance into an other-than-4yr Institution of Higher Education (IHE) for college-level coursework
Attainment of Proficient or Advanced on any Keystone Exam
Successful completion of a service-learning project
Letter guaranteeing full-time employment or military enlistment
Completion of an internship, externship, or cooperative education program
Compliance with NCAA Division II academic requirements

Pathway #5

Career and Technical Education Pathway: In addition to meeting local grade-based requirements for each Keystone Exam content area in which a student achieves less than Proficient, the student must also provide one (1) piece of evidence under this pathway:

Industry-based competency certification
Likelihood of industry-based competency assessment success
Readiness for continued engagement in Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrator program of study.

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