The Pennsylvania Keystone exams, all 3 subjects Algebra, English, and Biology were requirements for all students in Pennsylvania to pass in order to graduate. This year keystones do not determine whether or not a student will be able to graduate. As of February, of this year the keystones have been dropped from the graduation requirements. The keystones that are being administered throughout this week are still a reflection on the school, but they are more-a-less pointless other than the fact that it shows what the students know.

The algebra keystones are given out those students who have completed the algebra 1 course or have almost finished the course. The algebra keystone used to make graduating difficult for those who have failed the test about 5-6 times, the maximum amount of tries. Now the state of Pennsylvania has determined that such as high-stakes test should not determine whether or not a student will receive their high school diploma. Before, in the graduating class of 2013, everyone graduating on that year had to pass all 3 tests on their senior year, and failing the tests will either hold you back over the summer or make earning a high school diploma difficult.

Before those who had failed the test, and used up all their test takes would have to do an essay-type project that would be graded by the state very strictly. Passing the essay assignment would allow you to pass by the keystone graduation requirement, but at the cost of your summer, working on a huge essay assignment. Now those who fail the keystones really won’t be affected by it, but it may show up in your records later on in life that a student did not pass the keystones, which may affect if they get into college or not.