Unobtainable standards set by Pennsylvania Keystone Exams are causing educational institutions to look at inclusivity and reevaluate how career and postsecondary readiness is being assessed. The response to this need was Governor Tom Wolf’s Act 158, an amendment that introduced alternative pathways to graduation. It was designed to accommodate a broader spectrum of student goals and aspirations. “Effective with the graduating class of 2023, Pennsylvania high school students have the option to demonstrate their postsecondary preparedness and meet statewide requirements through one of five Pathways to Graduation,” says the Pennsylvania Department of Education. This amendment reshapes workforce development by providing opportunities for partnerships between educational institutions and employers that could offer platforms for upskilling and reskilling for many high school students on the career path.
It’s equally important to note that these changes in the graduation requirements do not exist in isolation. Chapter 339 of Title 22 plays a crucial role in shaping the educational landscape. This chapter, also known as Career and Technical Education Standards, requires that all schools in Pennsylvania have either career and technical education programs approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) or that they send their grades 9-12 students to another school for PDE-approved career and technical education program instruction to have a K-12 Guidance Plan. This guidance plan is essential for guiding students through their career-oriented, educational journeys, aligning their goals and aspirations with the available resources to acquire both graduation and certifications in their selected programs.
What is Act 158 and the Keystone Exams?
Act 158 is an amendment to the Public School Code that required passing three Keystone Exams to graduate high school. As of 2023, students who do not meet the traditional requirements of passing the three end-of-course Keystone Exams in Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature will have the chance to demonstrate career or postsecondary preparedness through four alternative pathways.
What are Keystone Exams?
The Keystone Exams were originally designed with the goal of holding Pennsylvania schools accountable for educating students. This plan quickly backfired, with many students scoring Basic or Below Basic, leaving districts scrambling to find supplemental ways to allow students to graduate. Further, the testing of only Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature as a means of determining competency and career-readiness proved to be a disservice to vo-tech students who are working toward certifications in healthcare, cosmetology, childcare, construction, and so on.
Five Pathways to Graduation:
Keystone Proficiency Pathway: the traditional pathway. Requires a Proficient or Advanced score (minimum of 1500) in all three Keystone Exams: Algebra 1, Biology, and Literature.
Keystone Composite Pathway: requires that a student has taken all three Keystone Exams and has a composite score of no less than 4452, at least one test score of Proficient or Advanced, and no test scores Below Basic.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) Concentrator Pathway: involves acquiring an Industry-Based Competency Certification, OR demonstration of high likelihood of success or readiness for continued engagement in a specific CTE program of study through an Industry-Based Competency Assessment approved by a chief school administrator in consultation with an area vocational-technical school director.
Alternative Assessment Pathway: in each Keystone content area where a grade of at least 1500 (Proficient) was not met, students must meet grade-based requirements as well as one of the following: pass an alternative assessment, successfully complete a course in content area where Keystone proficiency was not achieved, complete a pre-apprenticeship program, gain acceptance to an accredited, four-year, nonprofit institution of higher education.
Evidence-Based Pathway: involves providing three pieces of evidence, from a list with 10+ acceptable options, that demonstrate postsecondary readiness consistent with a student’s goals and career plan.
How Do These Changes Benefit Workforce Development?
The alternative pathways to graduation are “intended to codify high standards for all students and improve student achievement across Pennsylvania,” the Philadelphia Education Research Consortium reports, “ while also taking into account student strengths, interests, and career goals.”
As of 2018, two-thirds of Pennsylvania’s high schools were not meeting the graduation rate goal of 92.4 percent minimum by the year 2030. In south-central Pennsylvania, only thirty-six of the eighty-six high schools had met that same goal. With Act 158 in effect, coupled with the guidance provided by Chapter 339, it is clear that many high schools will likely be promoting the alternative pathways to boost graduation rates; vo-tech students being prime candidates for those pathways. It would be beneficial for companies to seek partnerships with high schools at this time to enrich the overall workforce development in Central PA by securing a clear pathway to higher numbers of graduates and offering career advancement for students.
Effective Collaboration
The introduction of the Career and Technical Education Concentrator Pathway offered by Act 158 takes on a new significance when viewed in the context of Chapter 339. This pathway involves “acquiring an Industry-Based Competency Certification, OR demonstration of high likelihood of success or readiness for continued engagement in a specific CTE program of study through an Industry-Based Competency Assessment.” The K-12 Guidance Plan mandated by Chapter 339 plays a central role in ensuring that students are directed towards these opportunities that match their career aspirations.
Programs like Emerge’s Allied Healthcare Professional, Clinical Medical Professional, and other healthcare certification programs are prime examples of how high school administration and employers can take advantage of Act 158’s CTE Pathway and the new mandates of Chapter 339. Emerge Education as a facilitator of these collaborations equips students, administrators, and employers with a great deal of resources to achieve success.
The introduction and implementation of Act 158 signals a pivotal moment in Pennsylvania’s approach to workforce development, offering a clear pathway to increased graduation rates and career progression, especially in the dynamic healthcare sector. As Pennsylvania strives to boost graduation rates and create a more competitive workforce, the importance of partnerships between high schools and employers, guided by the K-12 Guidance Plan mandated by Chapter 339, cannot be overstated. Programs like Emerge’s healthcare certification initiatives exemplify effective collaboration between educational institutions and employers, offering students the resources they need to excel in their chosen fields, ultimately contributing to a stronger and more skilled workforce.
