Support Sen. Tom McGarrigle’s options for graduation plan
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Alternative pathways to graduation, beyond the Keystone Exams

Thanks in large part to PSEA members’ advocacy, a bill giving high school seniors more options to fulfill graduation requirements has become law. 

The new state law will allow students who do not score proficient on the Keystone exams to demonstrate their readiness to graduate through alternative routes.

Gov. Tom Wolf signed the new law as Act 158 on Oct. 24 enacting Senate Bill 1095, sponsored by Sen. Tom McGarrigle.

A great step forward for both students and educators, Senate Bill 1095 will provide Pennsylvania students with additional options to fulfill high school graduation requirements beyond the high-stakes Keystone Exams. Students who do not score proficient on the Keystone Exams will be able to demonstrate their readiness to graduate through alternative routes.

Take Action

Standardized tests aren’t the only way to measure students’ abilities, and they’re certainly not the best way to do it.

That's why state Sen. Tom McGarrigle introduced Senate Bill 1095 — legislation that offers students who do not score proficient on the Keystone Exams alternative pathways to demonstrate their readiness to graduate from high school, beginning in the 2021-22 school year.

Here is what you need to know about Senate Bill 1095:

  • The Keystone Exam graduation requirement has been delayed until the 2019-20 school year.
      
  • The alternate graduation options in Senate Bill 1095 would take effect when the Keystone Exam delay expires.
      
  • Senate Bill 1095 would give school districts commonsense options for assessing student performance that don’t rely as heavily on standardized tests.

Take a moment to urge your state lawmakers to support Senate Bill 1095.

  • Enter your mailing address in the form and click "Start Writing" to get started.
     
  • Feel free to adapt the sample email message to make it personal to you.
     
  • Please do not use your school district email address to email state legislators. PSEA advises members not to send messages during instructional time, and comply with your school district's policies.

Video: PSEA VP Rich Askey on Senate Bill 1095

No single standardized test should overshadow a student's academic record of accomplishments, said PSEA Vice President Rich Askey in a recent video, discussing Senate Bill 1095.

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