Keystone Documents
Keystone Parent Letter
On December 5th through December 13th, 2022 STHS will conduct a Keystone Winter Test Session for juniors and seniors who have not yet met a graduation pathway. On the days of the exam, we will operate on a two-hour delay schedule. Only learners who are testing should arrive at the regular start time of 7:25am. Learners who are not testing will stay home and arrive at the building two hours later with a start time of 9:25am.
Transportation
On the days of testing, learners who are taking the Keystone assessments will arrive at the normal time (bussing will be provided as usual) to complete their assessment. A second round of bussing will take place on a two-hour delay schedule to transport students who did not have to test.
Schedule
Learners testing should arrive at the normal time of 7:25am. Learners not testing should arrive at 9:25am. FLEX period will start promptly at 9:37am for all students.
Monday, December 5th/ Tuesday, December 6th |
Wednesday, December 7th/ Thursday, December 8th |
Monday, December 12th/ Tuesday, December 13th |
Algebra Test |
Biology Test |
Literature Test |
Who is taking the Keystone assessments this winter?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s graduation requirement for all learners to pass the three (3) Keystone assessments, or alternatives goes into effect for the first time for the class of 2023. In order to help learners meet the graduation requirement through the Keystone assessments we are providing Keystone testing for the following:
· Any learner who has taken a Keystone assessment, but not passed the assessment
· Any learner who has taken a Keystone Eligible Course, but not taken the Keystone assessment for that course
· Any learner who has not passed all three Keystone assessments or achieved a 4452 Composite Score on all three Keystone assessments combined (with at least one Proficient or Advanced score)
Please feel free to contact your child’s counselor or any building administrator with any questions. Thank you in advance for your assistance.
Mr. Russell Wade |
Tessa Stockdale |
Dawn Kaloz |
School Counselor |
School Counselor |
School Counselor |
Last Names A-G |
Last Names H-O |
Last Names P-Z |
rwade@hannasd.org x40115 |
tstockdale@hannasd.org x40116 |
dkaloz@hannasd.org x40118 |
Algebra Review Resources
Link to Algebra Keystone Review Notebook:
This link will take you to a notebook that contains review lessons that can be utilized to help prepare you for the upcoming keystone exam in algebra.
Link to Algebra Khan Academy Course:
This link will take you to a Khan Academy course for biology. Once you enter the course assignments will be generated within 24 hours to help you review materials for the keystone biology exam.
https://www.khanacademy.org/join/ZCUUUXXH
For additional support with algebra review you can contact Ms. Gockley using remind.
https://www.remind.com/join/alg1ks
Biology Review Resources
Link to Biology Keystone Review Notebook:
This link will take you to a notebook that contains review materials that can be utilized to help prepare you for the upcoming keystone exam in biology.
Link to Biology Khan Academy Course:
This link will take you to a Khan Academy course for biology. Once you enter the course assignments will be generated within 24 hours to help you review materials for the keystone biology exam. https://www.khanacademy.org/join/DCQ24UTR
Literature Keystone Remediation
Keystone Remediation classes for Responsive Days have been set-up. In addition, each English teacher is technically covering the l0th grade standards/Keystone content in their classes as each course builds upon the same standards 9- l2.
Keystone FAQ
What are the Keystone Exams?
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to evaluate proficiency in academic content. Beginning with the class of 2022–2023, students must demonstrate proficiency on the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams to graduate or fulfill one of the other pathways provided to graduate. Students will be offered multiple opportunities to take the Keystones throughout their high school career.
Who will participate in the Keystone Exams?
In 2012–13, the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams replaced the 11th-grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessments (PSSA) in math, reading, and science for purposes of student, educator, and school accountability. Students should take the Keystone Exams at or near the end of a Keystone-related course. The students’ results are banked until their junior year for accountability purposes and until their senior year for graduation purposes. Some students who previously completed a Keystone-related course but did not take the Keystone Exam will also participate for accountability purposes. All students who take a Keystone Exam may re-take the exam.
When will the exams be offered?
The Keystone Exams will be administered three times each year—winter, spring, and summer. Specific administration dates will be published by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
Who decided what Keystone Exams should measure?
Groups of educators from across Pennsylvania chose the areas of knowledge on which the Keystone Exams are based. The groups included teachers, supervisors, curriculum directors, and college specialists. Other groups of Pennsylvania educators also reviewed, edited, and approved exam questions
What is assessed on the Keystone Exams?
Pennsylvania adopted the Pennsylvania Core Standards, standards aligned with expectations for success in college and the workplace. The Keystones are designed to measure these standards.
How long is a Keystone Exam administration?
There is no time limit for a student to complete a Keystone Exam. Each Keystone Exam should take the typical student two to three hours to complete. There are two modules on each test, and each module (or Test Session) of the Keystone Exam should take one to 1.5 hours to complete. Districts can administer the Keystone Exam modules across two days or divided across the morning and the afternoon of the same day.
What are the available formats for administering the Keystone Exams?
The Keystone Exams are available in both online and paper and pencil formats. Districts will determine if online, paper and pencil, or both formats will be used locally. Makeup exams will also be administered in either online or paper and pencil format.
Will students have an opportunity to experience online testing before taking a Keystone Exam online?
Tutorials and online training programs have been developed for the Keystone Exams. The PA Online Assessment Student Tutorial uses pictures, motion, and sound to present visual and verbal descriptions of the properties and features of the PA Online Assessment system. Students are allowed to repeat the Student Tutorial as often as desired and needed. The Online Tools Training (OTT) provides an introductory experience using the PA online assessment software allowing students to observe and try out features of the PA online assessment software prior to the actual assessment. Within the OTT, students also have the opportunity to practice typing responses in a narrative format, graphing functions, and entering equations using an equation builder tool. The online exam also has a “Help” feature that is available to the student during the exam.
What types of questions are on the Keystone Exams?
The Keystone Exams will include multiple-choice questions and constructed-response, or open-ended, questions. For each Keystone Exam, approximately
60 percent to 75 percent of the total score will be from multiple-choice questions and 25 percent to 40 percent of the total score will be from constructed-response questions.
How are the written responses to constructed-response questions scored?
The written responses for constructed-response questions are scored by evaluators trained in applying a pre-determined scoring system. Scores are based on content only. Spelling and punctuation are not included as part of the scoring process. Most constructed-response questions require students to show their work or explain their reasoning. These Keystone Exam questions will ask students to explain, analyze, describe, or compare. Some questions will also require students to perform calculations or create graphs, plots, or drawings.
How are the results reported?
Keystone Exam scores will be processed as quickly as possible and provided to the districts.
Two copies of the individual student report for all Keystone Exams will be sent to the school districts and charter schools. One copy should be sent home to parents/guardians; the other is kept by the school/ district.
School-level reports will be used for curricular and planning purposes. School districts and charter schools may publish the results of Keystone Exams for each school. The state will also release school-by-school exam data.
May parents see the Keystone Exams?
Parents and guardians may review the Keystone Exams if they believe they may be in conflict with their religious beliefs by making arrangements with the School Test Coordinator once the exams arrive at the school. Confidentiality agreements must be signed, and no copies of the Keystone Exams or notes about exam questions will be permitted to leave the school.
If, after reviewing the Keystone Exams, parents or guardians do not want their child to participate in one or all of the exams due to a conflict with their religious beliefs, they may write a letter indicating they have a religious objection to the school district superintendent or charter school CAO to request their child be excused from the exam(s).
Report Testing Irregularities
Parents/guardians who believe that a testing irregularity may have occurred may email ra-edirregularities@pa.gov or call 844-418-1651 to report the incident.
For additional information about the Keystone Exams, visit the PDE website at www.education.pa.gov or contact your school
Electronic Device Letter
In an era of cell phones, smartphones and other electronic devices which can easily photograph and instantly share photographs, confidential and secure test materials can be easily compromised. Not only is it expensive to replace a compromised test item, the material contained in the PSSA and Keystone Exams is copyrighted property of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Copying or duplicating the material from the assessment, including the taking of a photograph of secure assessment material, is a violation of the federal Copyright Act. Penalties for violations of the Copyright Act may include the cost of replacing the compromised test item(s) or fines of no less than $750 up to
$30,000 for a single violation (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.).
In order to ensure reliable test results and to avoid the cost of replacing test items, the Department of Education requires schools to set rules and take certain steps to protect test materials. Electronic devices such as but not limited to cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, E-readers, Nooks, Kindles, iPods, tablets, camera-ready devices, and any other electronic device which can be used to photograph or duplicate test materials, access the internet and/or communicate with others during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams are not permitted in any testing site. Please speak with your child and let him or her know that the possession and/or use of a cell phone or other electronic device during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams will result in consequences.
You will be contacted by the school if your child is discovered using and/or having a cell phone or other unapproved electronic device during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams. Students who ignore this directive will be subject to the school’s discipline policy and the Department of Education’s requirement that the student’s test will not be scored and the student will be required to retake the entire exam. The electronic device will be held by school staff, and the device’s stored photographs and other functions will be examined with your permission. You may request to be present when the electronic device is examined. If a photograph of the PSSA or Keystone Exam is discovered or if permission to search other functions of the electronic device is refused, the device will be held by the school staff. The Pennsylvania Department of Education holds the copyright to all material contained within the PSSA and Keystone Exams, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will be contacted and further action may be taken.
If, after testing is complete and test materials have been returned, it is discovered that a student used and/or had a cell phone or other unapproved electronic device during the administration of the test, the school’s discipline policy will be followed and the student’s test will not be scored.