by KYW's Dr. Marciene Mattleman
According to Joe Torsella, chairman of the State Board of Education, Pennsylvania is about to make the biggest change in high school since the 1960’s.
This year, 50,000 kids in Pennsylvania got diplomas without having basic grade- level mastery of reading and math. Many different tests are used in gauging achievement. Clearly, something must be done about both instruction and assessment.
Shortly, Pennsylvania will join two dozen other states that have some form of competency tests for graduation. The new Keystone Exams will be given at the end of each course in English, math and science. They’ll be phased in over five years.
Students will have three chances to pass. However, because model curricula are being developed for coursework, the likelihood of kids passing will be increased, because they won’t be tested on some material they haven’t studied, but on the content taught of their classes.
Frankie Miller, my next door neighbor, just entered 7th grade. When he completes high school in 2015, he’ll be better prepared for college and a career than most kids graduating today.
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