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Official Website

of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

    The .gov means its official.

    Local, state, and federal government websites often end in .gov. Commonwealth of Pennsylvania government websites and email systems use "pennsylvania.gov" or "pa.gov" at the end of the address. Before sharing sensitive or personal information, make sure you're on an official state website. 

    The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) was signed by President Obama on December 10, 2015. This measure reauthorizes the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965.

    The Keystone exams meet the federal accountability criteria of ESSA for the high school level. Students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability. Failure to do so will affect a Local Education Agency (LEA) and school's participation rate.

    The Keystone exams were created to replace the Grade 11 PSSA and serve as one component of Pennsylvania's statewide high school graduation requirement. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards. The exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Literature, and Biology.

    Reporting Violations

    Testing irregularities should be reported to the PDE by telephoning 844-418-1651 or emailing ra-ed-pssa-keystone@pa.gov. Please provide as many details as possible when reporting irregularities including how to contact the person making the report.

    The Spring 2024 Keystone Exams Training will only be via PowerPoint and not a live webinar.

    ​To assist DACs in the training of SACs, we developed the attached PowerPoint. Using this document is not required by PDE​ but rather is offered as a way to save time for DACs as preparation for state testing begins. Since the document contains the PDE logo, please adhere to the following guidelines as you use this document.

    ​To assist SACs in the training of all involved with test administration, we developed the attached PowerPoint. Using this document is not required by PDE but rather is offered as a way to save time for SACs as preparation for state testing begins. Since the document contains the PDE logo, please adhere to the following guidelines as you use this document.

    Resource Materials

    Due to the cancellation of standardized testing in 2019–2020, the 2021 Item and Scoring Samplers are revised and enhanced versions of the previously released 2017 Item and Scoring Samplers.

    An American with Disabilities (ADA) compliant document can be accessed by software programs for disabled users; therefore the handwritten student responses have been transcribed into typed responses for this purpose. The content is the same in both documents. 

    ADA Compliant Item and Scoring Samples

    Non ADA Compliant Item and Scoring Samples

    The Pennsylvania Department of Education provides districts and schools with item and scoring samplers for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and the Keystone Exams. These item and scoring samplers are tools to assist in delivering focused instructional programs aligned with the Pennsylvania Academic Standards (PAS).

    Braille

    The sampler items are assembled into a Braille booklet to assist students who will use the Unified English Braille accommodation. To receive a copy of the Braille item sampler, contact the AIM center at   jbreneman@pattan.net. (A request could take up to three weeks to process.)

    Video Sign Language

    To assist students using the Video Sign Language accommodation, a Video Sign Language format of the item samplers has been produced for each grade and/or subject.

    The Video Sign Langua​ge dashboard​ should be used in conjunction with the item and scoring samplers.

    Testing

    Guidance for Medical Exemptions from State Assessments

    Generally, if a student can receive instruction, then they are also able to participate in state assessments; however, the health and well-being of students should take priority in determining whether they can participate. 

    Students may receive a medical exemption if they cannot participate in a state assessment during the testing window, including make-up dates, due to a significant medical event. Examples include, but are not limited to, a student who is 1) receiving short-term medical treatment due to a medical emergency; or 2) seriously ill or has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving instruction during the testing window.

    1. A medical emergency is defined as a circumstance in which a student cannot take or finish taking the assessment during the entire testing window, including make-up dates, because of a recent significant medical event just prior to or during the annual testing window. Examples of medical emergencies include: 
      1. Serious injury 
      2. Concussion 
      3. Confinement to home or hospital with an acute condition, not a long-term home instruction or hospital instruction situation. 
      4. Inability to interact with others without serious risk of infection or contamination. 
      5. Pregnancy with significant health complications or delivery just prior to or during the testing window. 
      6. Mental health crisis that prevents a student from receiving instruction.

        A note from a physician dated at least two weeks within the start of the testing window must be on file at the school. These records must be retained for three years.
         
    2. A serious illness or medical condition is defined as one in which the student is receiving active treatment for a life-threatening illness or medical condition and/or the associated recuperation. A note from a physician must be on file at the school and must be retained for three years.

    To account for a student with a medical exemption, as defined above, the “Medical Emergency” bubble on testing documents should be used.

    Note: An assessment of a student’s medical condition must be made annually at the testing window for each content area.

    2024-2025 School Year

    ​Time of Year​Date
    ​Winter Wave 1​December 4 - 18, 2024
    ​Winter Wave 2
    		​January 6 - 17, 2025
    ​Spring​May 12 - 23, 2025
    ​Summer​July 28 - August 1, 2025

    Firefly
    November 18, 2024 to April 18, 2025

    2025-2026 School Year

    ​Time of Year​Date
    ​Winter Wave 1​December 3 - 17, 2025
    ​Winter Wave 2
    		​January 5 - 16, 2026
    ​Spring​May 11 - 22, 2026
    ​Summer​July 27 - 31, 2026

    Firefly
    Dates to be determined for 2025-2026 school year.

    2026-2027 School Year

    ​Time of Year​Date
    ​Winter Wave 1​December 7 - 18, 2026
    ​Winter Wave 2
    		​January 4 - 15, 2027
    ​Spring​May 17 - 28, 2027
    ​Summer​July 26 - 30, 2027

    Firefly
    Dates to be determined for 2026-2027 school year.

    Keystone Exam Scale

    Content Area
    		​Below Basic​Basic​Proficient​Advanced
    ​Algebra I​1200-1438​1439-1499​1500-1545​1546-1800
    ​Biology​1200-1459​1460-1499​1500-1548​1549-1800
    ​Literature​1200-1443​1444-1499​1500-1583​1584-1800
    Assessments

    Graduation Requirements

    Learn about Pennsylvania’s Pathways to Graduation, which provide alternative avenues for high school students to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness and satisfy statewide requirements without attaining Keystone Exam proficiency.

    Pathways to Graduation