Could the Keystone Exams replace the 11th grade PSSAs?
That issue cannot be addressed under this proposal. Because the 11th grade PSSAs are used to determine AYP, Pennsylvania could not do this without approval from the federal Department of Education. Also, the federal No Child Left Behind Act must be reauthorized and therefore is likely to be changed. Once reauthorization occurs, this issue could be considered and PDE could petition the USDOE for approval to use the Keystones for AYP purposes. There is a great deal of interest by local school officials across the state in pursuing this approach. Of course, that would require that the Keystone Exams be developed and ready for such use if federal approval is granted.
