Keystone+Exam+and+Project-Based+Assessment

Keystone Exams:
The Keystone Exams are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Literature, English Composition, Biology, Chemistry, U.S. History, World History, and Civics and Government.

The Keystone Exams are one component of Pennsylvania’s new system of high school graduation requirements. Keystone Exams will help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards. (http://www.pdesas.org/Assessment/Keystone# )


 * COMPOSITION:**
 * Currently, CYHS is offering this exam at the end of English I. The exam assesses a student's knowledge of PERSUASIVE and EXPOSITORY writing.**

It will be necessary to use this glossary to help guide your students in understanding key terms in composition. These are the terms that will be used on the exam and within the project. This is one area where students struggled while taking the initial field test. This glossary is usually not available during the exam, but if a student fails the exam twice and is assigned the project-based assessment, he/she will have access to the glossary for a better understanding of what is being asked of them.
 * GLOSSARY:**




 * LITERATURE:**
 * Currently, CYHS is offering this exam at the end of English II. This exam assesses a student's knowledge of all genres within literature.**

It will be necessary to provide students with an opportunity to explore all genres of literature at each level of English. Students will be asked to make connections between genres, use context clues, analyze for meaning, and cite evidence...just to name a few.



Please take the time to review all Anchors and Eligible Content. The exam and project are directly aligned with this material. While the exam assesses a student's knowledge on several of the Anchors and Eligible Content, the project will focus on a handful of these items as they pertain directly to a particular mode or genre.
 * A FEW WORDS ON ANCHORS AND ELIGIBLE CONTENT:**

All Keystone Anchors and Eligible Content are already directly aligned to the Common Core Standards.

While neither of these exams or projects affect your course directly, it is important to keep in mind that some of your students may still need to take the exam or complete the project. The exam is an end of course assessment. If a student does not pass the exam, he/she will need to retake the exam a second time. This may occur during your course as they could still pass English I and/or English II without passing the exam. You will still need to assist in the preparation and consistency of that child's education as related to Keystone and the Common Core.
 * IMPORTANT INFORMATION:**

If a student does not pass the exam after two attempts, he/she will need to complete the Keystone Project-Based Assessment for any and all areas for which he/she was unsuccessful. This might mean one student has to complete both a Fiction and a Nonfiction Literature Project-Based Assessment and/or a Persuasive and Expository Composition Project-Based Assessment. If a student was successful on one area of Eligible Content but not the other, he/she will only need to complete a Project-Based Assessment for the area in which he/she was unsuccessful.

The Project-Based Assessment requires a mentor to be assigned to the student. This mentor meets with the student throughout the "window" designated by PDE to check on a student's progress. PDE will supply mentors with a Teacher's Guide for all projects that teacher is mentoring. The district (at this point) will identify teachers who will serve as mentors.
 * WHY YOU PERSONALLY SHOULD KNOW ABOUT ALL THINGS ELA KEYSTONE RELATED:**

There might also be a need for remediation. This can be the responsibility of any teacher in the building. This is the student's opportunity to seek individual assistance on ELIGIBLE CONTENT materials ONLY. The teacher is not able to assist with the actual project and the student is not able to provide the teacher with any of the project materials or scenarios. The student is just seeking remedial lessons on concepts which should have been taught and learned during a particular class. The student should literally bring the teacher the Eligible Content number/description. The teacher is to simply review content that falls under that Eligible Content- vocabulary, elements, concepts, etc... That teacher may also refer back to assignments completed during a particular English course to help the student recall the information.

Some remediation will be provided through the PDE. The student will have access to an online "drop-box" for all their project check points. The projects require the student to complete work through a scaffolding approach. The student will submit all documents upon completion and after mentor review through this online drop-box. If a student is struggling with a certain aspect of Eligible Content, the Project-Based site will provide links to the SAS CDT remediation tools and lessons. Some of this material can be vague, and so it is still important for the student to seek help from a knowledgeable teacher within the building.