Keystone Assessments
The Keystone Assessments are end-of-course assessments designed to assess proficiency in the subject areas of Algebra I, Biology, and Literature. Beginning in the 2012-2013 school year, the Keystone Assessments were developed by the PA Department of Education and made available for use by school districts, CTEs and charter schools.
The Keystone Assessments are one component of Pennsylvania's statewide high school graduation requirements and help school districts guide students toward meeting state standards.
Susquehanna Township Middle School
2025 Keystone Testing Window (May 12th-23rd, 2025)
Susquehanna Township High School
2024-2025 Keystone Testing Windows
Winter: December 4th-18th, 2024
Spring: May 12th-23rd, 2025
Keystone Letter to Parents/Guardians
High School Keystone Letter
Dear STHS Parents/Guardians,
May 12th through May 23rd, 2025 STHS will conduct a Keystone Spring Test Session for eligible 9th-11th grade scholars. On the first six days of regular testing, we will operate on a two-hour delay schedule. Only scholars who are testing should arrive at the regular start time of 7:25am. Any scholars scheduled to test arriving after 7:45am on testing days will be required to do makeup testing. Scholars who are not testing will stay home and arrive at the building two hours later with a start time of 9:25am. The Keystone assessments are an integral part of the Graduation Pathways, so please emphasize with your scholar the importance of attendance and effort during the assessment window.
Transportation
On the days of testing, scholars who are taking the Keystone assessments will arrive at the normal time (bussing will be provided as usual) to complete their assessment. A second round of bussing will take place on a two-hour delay schedule to transport students who did not have to test.
Schedule
Scholars testing should arrive at the normal time of 7:25am. Scholars not testing should arrive at 9:25am. FLEX period will start promptly at 9:37am for all students.
Who is taking the Keystone assessments?
The Pennsylvania Department of Education requires all scholars to pass the three (3) Keystone assessments, or meet alternative pathways. In order to help scholars meet graduation requirements, we are providing Keystone testing to any scholar who has not passed the Keystone assessments (Proficient or Advanced Proficiency Level).
Mr. Russell Wade |
Tessa Stockdale |
School Counselor |
School Counselor |
Grades 9-11 Last Names A-Q |
Grades 9-11 Last Names R-Z, Grade 12 |
rwade@hannasd.org x40115 |
tstockdale@hannasd.org x40116 |
Note: This letter will also be mailed home with each scholar's testing information. In addition, Advisors will give scholars a hardcopy of this information at school.
Keystone Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Keystone Exam scores will be processed as quickly as possible and provided to the districts.
Two copies of the individual student report for all Keystone Exams will be sent to the school districts and charter schools. One copy should be sent home to parents/guardians; the other is kept by the school/district. The state will not receive any report with individual names included.
School-level reports will be used for curricular and planning purposes. School districts and charter schools may publish the results of Keystone Exams for each school. The state will also release school-by-school exam data.
Parents and guardians may review the Keystone Exams if they believe they may be in conflict with their religious beliefs by making arrangements with the School Test Coordinator once the exams arrive at the school. Confidentiality agreements must be signed, and no copies of the Keystone Exams or notes about exam questions will be permitted to leave the school.
If, after reviewing the Keystone Exams, parents or guardians do not want their child to participate in one or all of the exams due to a conflict with their religious beliefs, they may write a letter indicating they have a religious objection to the school district superintendent or charter school CAO to request their child be excused from the exam(s).
Keystone Electronic Device and Calculator Information
Electronic Device Letter from the PA Department of Education (PDE)
Dear Parent/Guardian:
In an era of cell phones, smartphones and other electronic devices which can easily photograph and instantly share
photographs, confidential and secure test materials can be easily compromised. Not only is it expensive to replace
a compromised test item, the material contained in the PSSA and Keystone Exams is copyrighted property of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Copying or duplicating the material from the assessment, including the taking of
a photograph of secure assessment material, is a violation of the federal Copyright Act. Penalties for violations of
the Copyright Act may include the cost of replacing the compromised test item(s) or fines of no less than $750 up to
$30,000 for a single violation (17 U.S.C. § 101 et seq.).
In order to ensure reliable test results and to avoid the cost of replacing test items, the Department of Education
requires schools to set rules and take certain steps to protect test materials. Electronic devices such as but not
limited to cell phones, smartphones, smartwatches, E-readers, Nooks, Kindles, iPods, tablets, camera-ready devices,
and any other electronic device which can be used to photograph or duplicate test materials, access the internet
and/or communicate with others during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams are not permitted in any
testing site. Please speak with your child and let your child know that the possession and/or use of a cell phone or
other electronic device during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams will result in consequences.
You will be contacted by the school if your child is discovered using and/or having a cell phone or other unapproved
electronic device during the administration of the PSSA or Keystone Exams. Students who ignore this directive will
be subject to the school’s discipline policy and the Department of Education’s requirement that the student’s test
will not be scored and the student will be required to retake the entire exam. The electronic device will be held by
school staff, and the device’s stored photographs and other functions will be examined with your permission. You
may request to be present when the electronic device is examined. If a photograph of the PSSA or Keystone Exam
is discovered or if permission to search other functions of the electronic device is refused, the device will be held by
the school staff. The Pennsylvania Department of Education holds the copyright to all material contained within the
PSSA and Keystone Exams, the Pennsylvania Department of Education will be contacted and further action may be
taken.
If, after testing is complete and test materials have been returned, it is discovered that a student used and/or had a
cell phone or other unapproved electronic device during the administration of the test, the school’s discipline policy
will be followed and the student’s test will not be scored.
PDE Calculator Policy
PENNSYLVANIA CALCULATOR POLICY
where the calculator is permitted, the student must adhere to the guidelines listed below. It is incumbent upon
the School Assessment Coordinator to ensure that all calculator policies are implemented and followed, including
making sure calculators have no programs or other data stored in their memory other than those that are factory
installed. Please note that if a student wants to restore the deleted programs, the student will need to back up these
programs prior to the assessment. In addition, the memory must be cleared on the calculator prior to and following
each test session of the assessment.
- Devices that have a primary purpose other than functioning as a calculator such as cell phones, smartphones,
- smartwatches, PDAs, laptops, tablets, pocket organizers, etc.
- Calculators with infrared, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or other beaming or wireless capabilities, unless the beaming or
- wireless capabilities are disabled
- Calculators with built-in Computer Algebra Systems (CAS)
- Calculators that make noise, have paper tape, need to be plugged in, or talk; these specific calculators can
- only be used as a required accommodation as stated in the Accommodations Guidelines
- Calculators shared by students during a test session
- Any and all non-factory (add-on) programs or information stored in the calculator
This calculator policy is intended to be a general description of what is not allowed. It is not meant to be an exhaustive
list of specific calculators, devices, or technologies that must not be used on the PSSA or Keystone Exams. Please
note that as technology changes, this policy may also change.
Keystone Resources
- Sample Keystone Questions
- Algebra I Keystone Resources
- Biology Keystone Resources
- Literature Keystone Resources
- AAP (Academic Assistance Program)
- Graduation Requirements and Pathways
Sample Keystone Questions
Algebra I Keystone Resources
Module 2 Help - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4_YoxzPcn2I&t=1211s
The links below will take you to the Khan Academy topics on the Algebra I Keystone (taken from the Full Algebra I course linked at the bottom of this page).
Module 1
Combining Like Terms
Exponent Rules Continued
Multiplying Polynomials
Factoring Difference of Squares
Simplifying Radicals
1.2 Linear Equations and Systems
Writing Expressions, Linear Equations, and Linear Equation Word Problems
Systems of Equations with Elimination Part:1
Systems of Equations with Elimination
Systems of Equations with Substitution
1.3 Linear Inequalities and Systems of Inequalities
Linear Inequalities
Graphs of Inequalities
Graphing Systems of Inequalities
Module 2
2.1 Functions and Patterns
Domain and Range
Identifying_Points
Finding Equations of Lines from Tables
2.2 Coordinate Geometry
Slope of a Line
Determining Slope from Two Points
Slope from Slope-Intercept Form
Slope from Standard Form
Graph from Slope-Intercept Form
Slope-Intercept Form from Graph
Converting between Slope Intercept and Standard Form
Point Slope Form
2.3 Probability and Data Analysis
Probability
Independent_Probability
Stem_and_Leaf_Plots
Mean, Median_and_Mode