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October 28, 2024

Dear 有料盒子 Bucks High School East Families,? 

As we prepare for the Winter Wave of the Keystone Exams, we want to share some important reminders with you as well as the test administration dates.

Keystone Exam Participation:? 

The Keystone Exams are end of course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature. Students will be rostered to sit for the exams based on the following scenarios:  

• They are currently enrolled in Algebra 1B, Biology, and/or English 10 for during the first semester. 
• They have not yet met proficiency in one or more of the Keystone exams during a previous school year and already completed Algebra 1B, Biology, and/or English 10.

Winter 2024-2025 Keystone Exam Administration:? 

• The Keystone Exams will be facilitated using paper and pencil. 
• Students must bring sharpened pencils and a calculator on test days.

• Students who are scheduled for a Keystone Exam and students who take the PASA exam must report to the building by 7:25am. 
• AM MBIT students who are scheduled for a Keystone Exam will report to their respective HS at 7:25am for Keystone Exam testing. 
• District transportation will run on a regular full-day schedule.
• Keystone Exams will be administered between 7:25am and 9:20am on the following days.

IMPORTANT

• All students who are not taking a Keystone Exam on an assessment day listed above may report to school as late as 9:20am to be ready to start Block 1 at 9:25am.
• If a student who is not taking a Keystone Exam is unable to obtain their own transportation to school by 9:20am, the student should take their normal school district provided bus, and they will be supervised in a designated study hall upon arrival.
• AM MBIT students returning to CB East at 10:40am will report to study hall until the end of Block 2.
• PM MBIT students will remain at CB East through A Lunch and will report to the bus at 11:55am for a 12:00pm departure to MBIT. 

To graduate from a public high school in Pennsylvania, all students must achieve one of the approved graduation pathways.  Passing all three Keystone Exams (Literature, Algebra 1, and Biology) is the first pathway and the pathway all students should be focused on achieving.  Passing the Keystone Exam for each of these courses demonstrates a student has met the expected understanding of course content taught during each of these three classes.  If a student is unable to pass one or more Keystone Exam or does not take a Keystone Exam for any reason, they must graduate by an alternative pathway.

A?parent/guardian may choose to exempt their child from participating in the exam(s)?if the tested content is found to be in conflict with their religious beliefs?as per PA Code 22, Chapter 4.4.?To exclude your child from taking one or more Keystone Exam(s), a parent/guardian must complete the following actions required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE).  

1. Email the School Assessment Coordinator.  For our school, please email Mrs. Tracey DeRosier, the CB East School Assessment Coordinator, at tderosier@cbsd.org to request an appointment to view the exam(s) to determine if they conflict with your religious beliefs.  
2. Report to CB East at the appointed time and sign the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Confidentiality Agreement prior to viewing the exams.
3. Write a letter to the Superintendent of Schools for 有料盒子 Bucks School District, Dr. Steven Yanni, stating the specific exam(s) you want your child exempt from for religious reasons.? Submit the letter to Mrs. Tracey DeRosier, CB East School Assessment Coordinator, at tderosier@cbsd.org.  

These actions must be completed no later than December 6, 2024.

An explanation of the Pennsylvania Graduation requirements including Keystone Exam and Alternative Pathways is provided below with additional details provided on our district website at the following link Assessment / Graduation Requirements and the PA Keystone Exams (cbsd.org) ( ). 

Graduation Requirements?for the Class of 2025 and beyond: 

PA Act 158 states that students in the Class of 2025 and beyond are required to demonstrate proficiency in Algebra 1, Literature, and Biology to earn a diploma?by completing one of the following pathways:? 

• 1. Keystone Proficiency?Pathway: Passing all?three?Keystone Exams?(Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature)  
  2. Composite Score?Pathway: The Keystone Exam three – score composite requires students to score proficient or advanced on at least one Keystone Exam and score at least Basic on the other two Keystone Exams with a minimum composite score?of?4452.? The Keystone Exam two-score composite is an alternative that exists for students who completed Algebra 1 or Algebra 1B in the spring of 2020 and never took the Algebra 1 Keystone Exam as a direct result of the COVID-19 Pandemic.  These students can meet the composite score pathway by earning a combined score of 2939 on the Biology and Literature Keystone Exams.  For the Biology and Literature Keystone Exam results, neither may be “below basic” and one result must be “proficient” or better.
  3. Career & Technical?Pathway: Earning a passing grade?in?all?Keystone-aligned courses?AND?either:? 

• Attaining an industry-based competency certification related to the CTE Concentrator’s program of study, OR?
• Demonstrating 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? 

• 4. Alternate Assessment?Pathway: Earning a passing grade in all Keystone-aligned courses?AND?one of the following:? 
     • Attain the?minimum score on?one of the following subject-aligned tests:?AP (3 on AP exam aligned to Keystone Course – check with your school counselor to confirm you complete a course that meets the requirements); PSAT (970); SAT (1010); ACT (21); ASVAB (31 - minimum score required to gain admittance to a branch of the military), OR? 

• Successfully complete a college-level course College Algebra (or higher), Biology, or Literature (check with your school counselor to confirm you complete a course that meets the requirement) from an accredited university or college OR? 
• Be accepted in an accredited 4-year nonprofit institution of higher education?? 

• 5. Evidence-Based?Pathway:?Earning a passing grade?in?all?Keystone-aligned courses?AND?three?pieces of?evidence? 
     • At least one of the following:? 
       • Attainment of a minimum score on any SAT subject-test (630)
       • Attainment of a minimum score on any Advanced Placement Exam (3)? 
       • Acceptance to an accredited nonprofit institution of higher education other than a 4-year?institution and evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework? 
       • Attainment an industry-recognized?credential 
       • Successful completion of any college-level course from an accredited university or college

• No more than two from the following:? 
  • Satisfactory completion of a service-learning project
  • Attainment of a score of proficient or advanced on one Keystone Exam? 
  • A letter guaranteeing full-time employment? 
  • Satisfactory compliance with the NCAA’s core courses for college-bound student athletes with a minimum grade point average (GPA) of 2.2.? 

? 

Important Note?About?a Parental Exclusion of their child from a Keystone Exam? 

While families may choose to exempt their child from participating in a Keystone Exam based on their religious beliefs, this does not exempt students in the Class of 2025 and beyond from the graduation requirements enacted with Act 158. Please understand students in the Class of 2025 and beyond are required?to?demonstrate proficiency in Algebra 1, Literature, and Biology?by successfully completing one of the 5 Pathways above.  

If you have questions about the Keystone Exams or the 5 Pathways, please contact your child’s school counselor or house principal.  

Sincerely, 

CB East Administrative Team      

PDE Policies for Keystone Exam Testing:

PDE Informational Letter for Parents and Guardians 2024-2025

PDE Code of Conduct for Test Takers 2024-2025

PDE Cellphone, Smartphone, and Other Electronic Devices Policy 2024-2025

PDE Calculator Policy 2024-2025