Pa. House OKs bill to study alternatives to Keystone Exams
The Keystone Exams, which are part of a Pennsylvania high school student’s graduation requirements, could soon be under the microscope following a Monday vote in the state’s House of Representatives asking that a study be done to determine if alternatives could be used instead.
The vote was 191-10, indicating broad bipartisan support for the measure in the narrowly divided House. It would require the commonwealth’s education department to look at whether other standardized tests that high school students take, such as the SAT, ACT or Smarter Balanced assessments, could be used in its place. The study would explore whether those tests match statewide academic standards and fulfill federal accountability requirements under the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act. The Keystone Exams test students in literature, algebra and biology.
Proponents say that dropping the Keystone Exams would save some money and prevent some frustration.
State Rep. Jason Ortitay, the Republican who represents the 46th Legislative District, which includes Cecil, Chartiers, Canonsburg and other communities in the northern portion of Washington, was a co-sponsor of the bill. He said in a news release, “This is a chance to find out if we can do better. The SAT and ACT are tests kids actually want to take because they mean something beyond just a state requirement. … Let’s see if we can make one test count for both and save taxpayers money in the process.”
According to a 2019 report, the Keystone Exams cost a little more than $17 million per year to administer and score in Pennsylvania, compared with a little more than $13 million per year for the SAT.
State Rep. Gina Curry, a Delaware County Democrat and another of the bill’s sponsors, said, “Like the Keystones, the SAT and other college-readiness tests assess student competency of certain subjects – these tests are all looking at the same type of metrics, even if they’re scoring them somewhat differently. If schools had the flexibility to offer the students the SAT or the ACT instead of the Keystones, that’s a significant savings.”
She added, “Half of our students already choose to take the SAT or the ACT as part of the college application process.”
The bill now goes to the state Senate. If it is approved in that chamber and signed by Gov. Josh Shapiro, the state education secretary would have to submit a report within one year of the bill’s effective date.