Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with House amendments and pass a bill that authorizes alternatives to graduate for keystone test.

Highlights:

• Establishes the following as acceptable alternatives to a satisfactory composite score on the Keystone Exams, including, but not limited to (Sec. 121):

• Completion of coursework in areas associated with each Keystone Exam and a satisfactory score on the SAT, ACT, or other approved alternative assessment; or

• Completion of coursework in areas associated with each Keystone Exam and 3 pieces of evidence that reflect college or career readiness, such as acceptance to an institution of higher education, completion of an internship or service learning project, or guaranteed full-time employment.

• Requires the Pennsylvania State Board of Education to establish a satisfactory composite score no later than July 30, 2019 (Sec. 121).

• Specifies that the satisfactory composite score must require a student to achieve a proficient score on 1 of the Keystone Exams and no less than a basic score on the other 2 (Sec. 121).

• Authorizes a superintendent of schools to grant a waiver of graduation requirements for a student who experiences extenuating circumstances such as serious illness or family emergency (Sec. 1).

• Authorizes a school to provide supplemental instruction to a student who has not achieved a satisfactory composite score on the Keystone Exams (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text