PA Board of Education Okays Graduation Exams

Statewide high school graduation exams in Pennsylvania are one step closer to reality.
The State Board of Education voted 14-2 to approve the Keystone Exams, a series of tests that would account for a third of a student’s final grade in each subject. Three of the tests would first be administered in the 2010-2011 school year, and the remaining seven would be phased in through 2016.
House Education Committee Minority Chair Paul Clymer, a Republican, was one of two Board members to vote against the exams. He’s worried school districts won’t have the funding to adjust their curricula to fit the tests.

"This is going to be a major change in academia, in the way that administrators and teachers now have to prepare students for these additional tests. I see, knowing my experience in government, that there’s going to be a shortfall in the monies, and the school districts are going to have to come up with the additional dollars."

The Keystone Exams aren’t fully approved yet. Education Secretary Gerald Zahorchak explains the proposal still needs to be okayed by the Independent Regulatory Review Commission, and the House and Senate Education Committees.

"It stops off at both committees. There’s a time limit. If they don’t weigh in it continues. If they do weigh in there’s the possibility IRC will ask more questions. But then it becomes in the hands of IRC. And they make the decision. After that the final thing that happens is the Attorney General says this is all in the laws of Pennsylvania. There’s nothing unlawful about it."

The commonwealth is paying a private company 176 million dollars to develop the tests, devise a model curriculum and develop diagnostic tools for teachers. School districts will have the option of developing their own graduation assessments, and would be able to use those in place of the Keystone Exams, if they receive state approval. But the districts would have to pay to develop those tests. Senate Education Committee Chair Jeff Piccola says that doesn’t take away from the initiative’s goal of creating uniform graduation standards.

"I don’t think it weakens it, as long as it’s properly validated. Some districts, they want to exceed the standards we have here. And that’s great, I think that’s wonderful. But they have to meet those basic minimums, and if they take another route they’re going to have to have it validated."


Education Secretary Zahorchak says the exams will be funded in the annual budget. He says Pennsylvania will also pursue federal funding.