§ 1-121. Keystone Exams and graduation requirements
Purdon's Pennsylvania Statutes and Consolidated StatutesTitle 24 P.S. EducationEffective: July 8, 2022
Effective: July 8, 2022
24 P.S. § 1-121
§ 1-121. Keystone Exams and graduation requirements
(a) The department shall develop and implement Keystone Exams in algebra I, literature and biology. The State Board of Education shall promulgate or revise regulations, subject to the act of June 25, 1982 (P.L. 633, No. 181),1 known as the “Regulatory Review Act,” necessary to implement this section.
(1) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v),2 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 (relating to high school graduation requirements), 4.51 (relating to State assessment system) or 4.51c (relating to project-based assessment) or any statute or regulation to the contrary, the use of the Keystone Exams as a graduation requirement or as a benchmark for the need for participation in a project-based assessment shall be delayed until the 2022-2023 school year.
(2) The Department of Education shall investigate and develop alternatives in addition to the use of the Keystone Exams as a requirement for graduation and shall, within six (6) months of the effective date of this paragraph,3 issue a report of the Department of Education's findings and recommendations, including proposed legislation, to the chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairman and minority chairman of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives. The report shall, at a minimum, contain a detailed plan and timeline within which the Department of Education shall accomplish all of the following:
(c) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24 or 4.51 or any statute or regulation to the contrary, in any school year in which a demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam is required for high school graduation, a CTE Concentrator shall be deemed proficient provided that the CTE Concentrator shall meet all of the following requirements:
(1) completes locally established grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the CTE Concentrator did not achieve proficiency. For the purposes of this paragraph, completion of grade-based requirements in any science and technology and environment and ecology course shall satisfy the requirements for the academic content area associated with the Keystone Exam in biology; and
(ii) demonstrates a high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment or readiness for continued meaningful engagement in the CTE Concentrator's program of study as demonstrated by performance on benchmark assessments, course grades and other factors consistent with the CTE Concentrator's goals and career plan and determined for the CTE Concentrator by a chief school administrator in consultation with an area career and technical school director or principal of a comprehensive high school. The determination shall be made no later than the end of eleventh grade, or, for a student enrolled in a one-year program, the end of the first semester of twelfth grade.
(c.1) Notwithstanding section 2604-B(b)(2)(v), 22 Pa. Code § 4.24, 4.51 or 4.51c or any statute or regulation to the contrary, in any school year in which a demonstration of proficiency on a Keystone Exam is required for high school graduation, a student shall be deemed proficient if the student demonstrates one of the following:
(3) Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score and demonstration of three pieces of evidence that reflect readiness for meaningful postsecondary engagement consistent with the student's goals and career plan, which shall include:
(B) Satisfactory completion of a service learning project that received advance approval for use as a rigorous and objective piece of evidence by a chief school administrator or their designee. A service learning project shall include global, national, State, local or in-school projects as defined by the department.
(iii) Every five years, the State Board of Education shall review the operation of the satisfactory composite score established under paragraph (1) and shall issue a report of its findings to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the House of Representatives.
(c.3) A chief school administrator may grant a waiver of the requirements for demonstrations of proficiency on the Keystone Exams or the requirements of subsection (c) or (c.1) for a student in grade twelve or to accommodate a student who experiences extenuating circumstances. The following shall apply:
(3) When the waivers granted by a chief school administrator exceed five percent (5%) of students in the graduating class in any school year, the department shall review the waivers granted. If the department determines that the five percent (5%) threshold was exceeded because waivers were granted to students who experienced extenuating circumstances, paragraphs (1) and (2) shall not apply.
(5) As used in this subsection, the term “extenuating circumstances” shall include serious illness, death in the student's immediate family, family emergency, frequent school transfers or transfer from an out-of-State school in grade twelve or another emergency as determined by the secretary and approved by the State Board of Education.
(4) Shall not intrude into instructional time for career and technical education and may not occur during a student's dedicated time in a career and technical education program in order to provide the student time to gain competence in the student's concentration area within a career and technical education program as well as demonstrate a high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment.
(c.6) A student with a disability who satisfactorily completes a special education program developed by an individualized education program team under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 91-230, 20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.) and 22 Pa. Code Ch. 14 (relating to special education services and programs)4 that does not otherwise meet the requirements of this section shall be granted and issued a regular high school diploma by the student's school entity.
(c.8) When a student transfers from an out-of-State school to a school entity in this Commonwealth, the student's school entity shall determine whether the student's performance on out-of-State coursework and assessments that are aligned with the State academic standards assessed by each Keystone Exam satisfy the requirements of this section.
(c.10) No later than the beginning of the 2020-2021 school year, each school entity shall ensure students, parents and guardians are notified of the school entity's high school graduation requirements, including requirements established in law and regulations and any additional requirements established by the school entity, and shall publish its high school graduation requirements on its publicly accessible Internet website.
(c.12) The secretary shall issue guidelines within ninety (90) days of the effective date of this section5 for implementation of this section.
“Accredited four-year nonprofit institution of higher education.” Any of the following:
(1) A university within the State System of Higher Education under Article XX-A.6
(2) A State-related institution as defined in section 1502-A.7
“Accredited nonprofit institution of higher education.” Any of the following:
(1) A community college operating under Article XIX-A.8
“ACT.” A standardized test for the assessment of college readiness administered by ACT.
“ACT WorkKeys assessment.” An assessment of workplace skills administered by ACT.
“Advanced Placement Program.” A program authorized by the college board that allows a student to study college-level subjects while enrolled in high school and to receive advanced placement and college credit for earning a qualified score on the course-related Advanced Placement exam.
“Approved alternative assessment.” A SAT, PSAT, ACT or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery test.
“Approved industry-based competency assessment.” A NOCTI exam, NIMS assessment or other industry-based competency assessment identified by the Secretary of Education and approved by the State Board of Education or identified by an act of the General Assembly.
“Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery Test.” The aptitude test developed and maintained by the United States Department of Defense.
“Chief school administrator.” The superintendent of a school district, executive director of an intermediate unit, administrative director of an area career and technical school or chief executive officer of a charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school or multiple charter school organization.
“Concurrent enrollment course.” A course in which a secondary student is enrolled and, upon successful completion of which both high school and postsecondary credit are earned.
“Cooperative education program.” A program of instruction whereby students alternate or coordinate their high school studies with a job in a field related to their academic or career objectives.
“Department.” The Department of Education of the Commonwealth.
“Established score.” A score recommended by the secretary and approved by the State Board of Education.
“GPA.” Grade point average.
“Industry-recognized credential.” A credential identified in the industry credential resource book or in the industry-based learning guidelines compiled by the department.
“International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.” An academically challenging two-year precollege diploma program comprised of three core requirements and six academic subject areas with final examinations that prepare students sixteen (16) to nineteen (19) years of age for higher education and life in a global society.
“NIMS assessment.” An assessment based on the National Institute for Metalworking Skills standards.
“NOCTI exam.” A National Occupational Competency Testing Institute exam.
“Postsecondary course.” A course in which a secondary student is enrolled and, upon successful completion, postsecondary credit is earned.
“Preapprenticeship program.” An apprenticeship program registered with the Pennsylvania Apprenticeship and Training Council.
“SAT.” A standardized test for the assessment of college readiness administered by the College Board.
“SAT Subject Test.” A standardized test for the assessment of a specific content area administered by the College Board.
“School entity.” A school district, intermediate unit, area career and technical school, charter school, cyber charter school, regional charter school or multiple charter school organization.
“Secretary.” The Secretary of Education of the Commonwealth.
Credits
1949, March 10, P.L. 30, No. 14, art. I, § 121, added 2012, June 30, P.L. 684, No. 82, § 5, effective July 1, 2012. Amended 2016, Feb. 3, P.L. 1, No. 1, § 1, imd. effective; 2017, June 21, P.L. 200, No. 6, § 1, imd. effective; 2017, Nov. 6, P.L. 1142, No. 55, § 1, imd. effective; 2018, June 22, P.L. 241, No. 39, § 1, effective July 1, 2018; 2018, Oct. 24, P.L. 1146, No. 158, § 1, imd. effective; 2019, Oct. 30, P.L. 460, No. 76, § 2, effective in 60 days [Dec. 30, 2019]; 2020, Nov. 25, P.L. 1294, No. 136, § 1, imd. effective; 2022, July 8, P.L. 620, No. 55, § 1, imd. effective.
Footnotes
71 P.S. § 745.1 et seq.
24 P.S. § 26-2604-B.
Subsec. (b)(2) added by 2016, Feb. 3, P.L. 1, No. 1, § 1, imd. effective.
22 Pa. Code § 14.101 et seq.
So in original; subsec. (c.12) was added by 2018, Oct. 24, P.L. 1146, No. 158, § 1, imd. effective.
24 P.S. § 20-2001-A et seq.
24 P.S. § 15-1502-A.
24 P.S. § 19-1901-A et seq.
24 P.S. § 18-1801 et seq.
22 Pa. Code § 339.1 et seq.
24 P.S. § 1-121, PA ST 24 P.S. § 1-121
Current through Act 10 of the 2024 Regular Session. Some statute sections may be more current, see credits for details.
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