According to PDE, the only permissible reason for opting out of Keystones is due to religious reasons.  If you would like to seek an opt-out for your student, please fill out the form here.

Please understand that students in the class of 2023 and below who opt out due to religious reasons are still required under state law to demonstrate proficiency on the Keystone content in each of the assessed areas using an alternative pathway in place of each exam.

Proficiency on Keystone exams are a graduation requirement for students in the class of 2023 and beyond.  All eligible students are required to take the three Keystone exams.  Students who do not meet the proficiency requirements on the Keystone exams may retake the exams or consider an alternate pathway to graduation.

Score reports will be available from PDE according to the following schedule:

2020-2021:
Spring Testing - available December 2021

2021-2022:
Winter Testing - available March 2022
Spring Testing - available August 2022

If you have questions about scores on an earlier administration, please contact your student's counselor.

Yes.  There is no digital testing option for the Keystone exams.

As a result of the pandemic, all students who took Algebra, Biology, or Literature during the 2019-20 school year and received a passing grade were issued a proficient score on the corresponding Keystone Exam by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.  Since this score is "non-numeric," it cannot be used as part of the composite score pathway.  Students wishing to use the composite score as an alternate pathway for graduation will have to consider another alternate pathway.

Yes.  All students who are enrolled in a Keystone course (Algebra I, Biology, or English 10) are required to take the relevant Keystone exam.