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Senate Co-Sponsorship Memoranda
Senate of Pennsylvania
Session of 2013 - 2014
Regular Session
MEMORANDUM
| Posted: | June 24, 2014 12:08 PM |
|---|---|
| From: | Senator Mike Folmer |
| To: | All Senate members |
| Subject: | Keystone Exams |
| Student testing has long been a concern and an ongoing debate in education. In 2010, I was the only Member of the Senate Education Committee to oppose Keystone Exams. Nonetheless, these tests were approved and beginning with the 2016-2017 school year, Pennsylvania public school students will need to pass the Keystone Exams in order to graduate. Since becoming chair of the Senate Education Committee, I have carefully listened to testing proponents and opponents. Both have valid arguments: testing is an important measure of students’ academic growth; but, what is the value of “high stakes testing” and the amount of remediation that may be required for students to pass the exams? As schools wrestle with implementation of this new testing process, I want to provide them with options that best meet the needs of students. With this in mind, I plan to introduce legislation that would give schools the OPTION of deciding the role the Keystone Exams will play in measuring student progress, i.e.,: an end-of-course grade, indication for remediation, or a graduation requirement. Please join me in cosponsoring legislation to allow schools to determine the role Keystone Exams will play in graduation requirements. |
Introduced as SB1450