By Elizabeth Hill
As we face a new school year, juniors
prepare to take the Keystone Exams. While the Keystones resemble the PSSA in
some ways, they are extremely different in others. This new exam tests students
on a smaller and more specific level. Instead of a science, math, and English
test, students will take the biology, algebra one or two, and also the reading
and writing exams.
Mandy Lumadue, 10th grade
biology teacher expressed how the Keystones are more challenging, but it could
become easier in the coming years. Students have to remember that when the
PSSA’s were first created; there were many bugs that had to be worked out in
its first years.
The difference is about 25% to 40%
more students failing. Two years ago, the current seniors took a pilot version
of the Keystone Exams. That year, only 22% of students passed the Algebra test
instead of 69% on the PSSA. 20% of sophomores passed the biology test, while
over 50% of students got proficient or higher on the PSSA’s. And, although 82%
or students passed the PSSA reading exam, only 62% passed the Keystone reading
test.
Steven Everhart, 11th
grade English teacher, stated that the students may have some difficulty
welcoming the change in tests. “I’m not too sure students will welcome the
change overall.” Also adding that, “Since most of the push to change to
Keystones comes not from teachers but from politicians and the business
community who have raised the passing bar so high that most students in the
state will probably fail…as would Governor Corbet if he took some of them.”
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