By Dr. Beth DeLay
Director, Health/Physical Education, Guidance & Nursing Services

Act 158 provides alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) in order for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements. 

Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness. 

Keystone Exams will continue as the statewide assessment Pennsylvania uses to comply with accountability requirements set forth in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Although students will no longer be required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams in order to meet statewide graduation requirements, students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability and as a Pocono Mountain School District graduation requirement. Failure to do so will affect a Local Education Agency (LEA) and school’s participation rate.

ACT 158 – Pathways to Graduation
Keystone Proficiency Pathway: Score proficient or advanced on each Keystone Exam (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology).

Keystone Composite Pathway: Earn a composite score (of 4452) between the three Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology). The scores must include a score of Proficient or Advanced on at least one Keystone exam and at least Basic on the other two.

Alternative Assessment Pathway 
Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements in the Keystone aligned courses (Algebra I, English 10, Honors ELA 9, and Biology). 

AND (one of the following) 

• Earn an established score on the SAT, PSAT, ACT, ASVAB  
• Gold Level on the ACT WorkKeys Assessment  
• Earn an established score on a Keystone related AP Exam (Calculus AB or Statistics, Literature, Biology)  
• Successful completion of a dual enrollment course in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not achieve a proficient score.  
• Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program  
• Provide an unconditional acceptance letter from an accredited 4-year institution of higher education

Evidence Based Pathway  
Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements in the Keystone aligned courses (Algebra I, English 10, Honors ELA 9, and Biology).

AND (one of the following) 

• Attainment of established score on one of the following:
  • SAT subject test (630 or better)
  • ACT WorkKeys (Silver level or better) 
  • Advanced Placement Exam (3 or better on any AP exam) 
  • International Baccalaureate Diploma Program Exam ( 3 or better on any IB exam)
• Successful completion of a dual enrollment or postsecondary course  
• Attainment of an industry-recognized credential  
• Provide an unconditional acceptance letter from an-other-than- 4-year institution of higher education or
• Institution of higher education for college level course work.  

AND (two additional pieces of evidence from the following)  

• Attainment of a score of proficient or advanced on a Keystone Exam 
• Successful completion of a service learning project  
• Letter guaranteeing full-time employment or military enlistment 
• Completion of an internship, externship or cooperative education program
• Compliance with NCAA Division II academic requirement. 

Career & Technical Education Pathway  
Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements in the Keystone aligned courses (Algebra I, English 10, Honors ELA 9, and Biology).

AND (one of the following)  

• Attainment of an industry-based competency certification related to the CTE Concentrator’s program of study 
• Demonstration of a high likelihood of success on an approved industry-based competency assessment  
• Readiness for continued meaningful engagement in the CTE Concentrator’s program of study

Administration and School Counselors will be working closely with each student to review each pathway and to assist all students in finding the best pathway to meet the statewide graduation requirement.