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For Immediate
Release
7/28/09
Keystone Exam Compromise Receives Strong
Bipartisan Support
HARRISBURG –
After three public hearings and many conversations among lawmakers and various
educational interest groups, the Senate Education Committee, chaired by Senator
Jeffrey E. Piccola (R-15), voted today in bipartisan support of a Senate
resolution and a compromise forged by the Chairman of the State Board of
Education, Joseph Torsella, regarding statewide end-of-course testing
requirements and voluntary Keystone Exams.
"For the first
time in the General Assembly, members of this Committee supported a symbolic
measure – 'a Sense of the Senate' resolution – that I've sponsored along with
the Democratic Chairman of this Committee, Andrew Dinniman (D-Chester), to show
our strong bipartisan support for the compromise and the regulatory process that
is necessary to move this important issue forward. This compromise proposal
marks a significant step because it represents the best opportunity for us to
advance the public interests on behalf of the real stakeholders, the students
and taxpayers of Pennsylvania," Piccola said.
"The debate in
Pennsylvania over new statewide graduation requirements began back in May of
2007 when the State Board announced its plans to consider the issue. After many
hearings by the board, the Legislature, and discussions with stakeholders,
Chairman Torsella has proposed a common ground plan addressing the concerns
articulated throughout these deliberations. And although there may not be
universal agreement, every interested party and group has had an opportunity to
share their views," he added.
In recent weeks,
Chairman Torsella announced the compromise proposal as a solution to the debate
to implement end-of-course exams in the Commonwealth. Under the proposal,
school districts would be able to choose to use the Keystone Exams beginning
with the class of 2015. Ten different tests would be made available to
districts and would be phased in over six years, starting with English,
literature, algebra, and biology during the 2010-2011 school year. The exams
would replace the current 11th grade Pennsylvania System of School Assessment
(PSSA), pending approval by the federal government. Additionally, the tests
would count as one-third of a student's final class grade and could replace
final exams if a district chooses. Districts deciding not to use the Keystone
Exams would be permitted to use local assessments aligned to the state standards
and appropriately validated.
"This proposal
appropriately addresses a number of the concerns raised, while ensuring two key
principles significant in this process: accountability on the students and local
control for the districts. I am pleased Chairman Torsella recognized these
principles and the need for the Legislature to have input into this compromise,"
Piccola said. "Most importantly, I am gratified by the strong bipartisan
support my colleagues have demonstrated for this compromise, not to mention the
passage of today's resolution."
Piccola also
noted that a number of superintendents from large and small school districts
across Pennsylvania recently endorsed the compromise proposal, emphasizing in a
correspondence to the General Assembly that the options under the plan "are
tools that can help us accelerate our progress, document our gains, and ensure
success for every graduate." In addition to district superintendents, broad
support for the exams exists among the business community.
Following the
Senate Education Committee's approval of the resolution and hopefully the Senate
to follow, the State Board will consider adoption of the final form regulation
at a future meeting. The Education Committees in both chambers of the
Legislature as well as the Independent Regulatory Review Commission (IRRC) will
then have the opportunity to approve or disapprove of the regulation under the
provisions of the Regulatory Review Act.
CONTACT:
Colleen Greer
(717)
787-6801
Additional Information:
Education
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