Since it was introduced in 2013, the Keystone Exam — one of the state’s responses to the federal No Child Left Behind initiative — cast a bit of a shadow over Morgan Murphy’s future.
The Pottsville Area junior was told the strenuous exercise in algebra, biology and literature would be a graduation requirement starting with the Class of 2017, of which she is part.
“It worried me. It’s more of an annoyance than anything else. You always have to worry about passing them. And if you don’t, you have to take remediation classes. And I’m just not a good test-taker in general,” Murphy, 16, said Wednesday.
Last week, state legislators approved a bill that will let Murphy and her class off the hook. The governor is expected to sign Senate Bill 880, which will delay the use of these exams as graduation requirements until the 2018-19 school year. Once the ink is dry, the state Department of Education will review the Keystone Exam and everything that goes into it.
Murphy and a few of her classmates thought that was a good idea.
“I think the Keystone Exam takes away from learning in class because students find themselves getting more prepared to study for a test than to study to learn in the course. People are learning how to take a test rather than learning the material itself,” Michael Smerlick, 17, said.
“I was incredibly worried about it. If you don’t pass the Keystone right away, like in your freshman or sophomore year, you’d have to take Keystone classes and that would take away from classes you’d want to take,” Abby Schroding, 17, said.
“Some people aren’t really good at test-taking, so they can be incredibly smart and not do well on the Keystones,” Megan Dalton, 16, said.
Those students hope legislators keep the Keystone Exam out of graduation requirements.
“I think it could be used as an indicator to see how students are doing, to see if they’re well-rounded,” Smerlick said.
“It should be something to determine your basis, to see where you are,” Dalton said.
“Where you stand in your class,” Schroding said, elaborating on Dalton’s statement.
“And what areas you need more help in. School shouldn’t be about passing a Keystone to get your diploma. School is about studying to retain information to further your education,” Smerlick said.
The bill
In 2013, the Keystone Exam replaced the 11th-grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessment exam. Starting with the Class of 2017, students were to be required to pass those exams to graduate.
State Sen. Lloyd K. Smucker, R-13, the prime sponsor of Senate Bill 880, described in the bill’s memorandum some of the issues school districts have had with the Keystones.
“The Keystones are designed to ensure that Pennsylvania schools are preparing students effectively and efficiently for postsecondary education or the work force. However, in its implementation, unanticipated consequences that are impacting options for students and parents have arisen, particularly with regard to project-based assessments. While we are committed to strong accountability in the process, we believe reasonable changes may be in order. This legislation will give us time to work together with all stakeholders to improve the process,” Smucker said.
The bill was approved by the House on Nov. 23, and it was approved by the Senate on Jan. 20.
“Some level of testing is appropriate in order to measure the effectiveness of public education, but I think we require too many tests. That’s why I voted for this bill,” state Sen. David Argall, R-29, said Tuesday.
“As a graduate of Thaddeus Stevens College of Technology, I am glad this bill emphasizes technical education. It would ensure students aren’t prohibited from participation in technical education as a result of requirements associated with the Keystone Exams,” state Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, said Tuesday.
“I also support the use of a ‘common denominator’ across the commonwealth which would mean that a diploma from Hamburg Area School District is comparable to a diploma earned at Tamaqua Area School District. Such a common denominator is essential to ensuring that we are providing a quality education to each student in Pennsylvania,” Knowles said.
“I voted for Senate Bill 880 when it passed the state House last year because of numerous concerns raised about the Keystone Exams,” state Rep. Neal Goodman, D-123, said Tuesday.
“I believe it is best to delay implementation of these exams by two years to give all stakeholders — parents, educators and lawmakers — additional time to study issues that have arisen and to work together to make improvements to these exams,” Goodman said.
Once Gov. Tom Wolf signs the bill into law, the state Department of Education has six months to develop alternatives to the test as a graduation requirement.
“The department intends to explore alternatives for all students to demonstrate college and career readiness, while maintaining a high level of rigor,” Nicole Reigelman, press secretary for the state Department of Education, Harrisburg, said Wednesday.
“Secretary Pedro A. Rivera is holding a series of education roundtables to explore measures of school accountability and achievement, and to recognize positive work being done in commonwealth schools. With improving education as the hallmark of his administration, Governor Wolf and the Department of Education are working closely with stakeholders to develop policies that will best serve the state’s schools and students, as well as advance Pennsylvania’s economy in the long term,” Casey Smith, an information specialist for the state Department of Education, said Jan. 22.
The state Department of Education will be tasked with crafting a report with recommendations of alternatives in addition to the use of Keystone Exams as graduation requirements in Pennsylvania.
“This report will be required in six months and be submitted to the Education chairs of both the House and the Senate,” Reigelman said.
Meanwhile, Keystone exams will continue to be administered.
“The assessments are still federally required and will be used for statewide reporting,” Reigelman said.
This was emphasized when the Pottsville Area school board discussed Senate Bill 880 at its Jan. 20 meeting.
“Students still have to take them,” Pottsville Area Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel said.
“So, our curriculum is not changing?” school board Vice President Karen E. Rismiller asked.
“Correct,” school board President John F. Boran said.
The governor has not signed the bill as of Wednesday, Reigelman said.
“Governor Wolf supports the delay in implementation of the Keystone exams. While the governor believes we should have high standards, there have been issues with the implementation, and it is prudent to allow more time. Additionally, the governor and Secretary Rivera are currently engaging teachers, administrators and students, community leaders, stakeholders and advocates from around the state to develop a comprehensive school accountability system that will support schools and help Pennsylvania students succeed,” according to a statement recently posted on the governor’s website at www.governor.pa.gov.
Other views
“As much as I agree with holding school districts, administration, teachers and students accountable, I do not believe establishing graduation requirements based on a test is really fair,” Thomas Smith, high school principal at Mahanoy Area, said Tuesday.
“I can only speak for my school district in saying that we are more diverse than ever. We have a high amount of students that are involved in the academic sector which would require a high amount of focus on algebra 1, biology and literature. We also have a high population of students that are enrolled in the business field and a vocational program. I understand that our students had the option of a project if they could not pass the test. At a small school district like Mahanoy Area, we would have a difficult time adding additional resources and support to allow our students to complete this project. All districts are different with different goals and objectives. I know that with the past requirements of the Keystone tests and the continued pressure placed on districts with the School Performance Profile, our school district has lost some of its uniqueness that has made Mahanoy Area so special,” Smith said.