A Parents’ Guide to
Keystone Biology Exam and
Project Based Assessments
(PBA)
Keystone Biology

What is the Keystone?

Who takes the Keystone?

When/Where do students take the Keystone?

Why the Keystone?
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How many times can you take the Keystone?
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How is Keystone used?
What is the Keystone?
What is a PBA?
Keystone is an end-of-course exam/test to
evaluate and demonstrate student proficiency
in achieving the PA State Core Standards for
Biology, Algebra I and Literature
 PBA is an alternate project based assessment
used in place of the Keystone to evaluate and
demonstrate student proficiency in achieving
the PA State Core Standards for Biology,
Algebra I and Literature

How is the Keystone used?
Graduation Requirement for students.
 Measure student “Achievement” success.
 A piece of testing data that determines
academic “Growth” for students
 A piece of testing data used to measure
Teacher Effectiveness, TPP.
 A piece of testing data used to measure
School Effectiveness, SPP.

Who takes the Keystone? or completes
a PBA (project based assessment)?

Algebra I: 8th, 9th, 10th for first time test
takers. 9th, 10th and 11th for retakes.

Literature: 10th for first time test takers. 11th
for retakes.
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Biology: 9th, 10th for first time test takers. 10th,
11th for retakes.
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PBA- 11th, 12th if not proficient on Keystone.
Where do they take the
Keystone?
Students will take the keystone in a PHS
school setting with trained
proctors/administrators
 Online @ PAHS
 Notices, Testing Tips, Rules/
Regulations of testing are provided to
parents and students.

When do they take the Keystone?
The Keystone is administered 3 times
throughout the school year
 The testing windows are during
December/January (Winter), May (Spring),
August (Summer)
 Winter tests are for retakes
 Spring tests are for all end of year first time
test takers and retakes.
 PHS does not test during summer test
window

Why the Keystone?

Aligns to PA Core Standards – show’s student
mastery of required skill sets in each subject

Helps us to know where we need to adjust our
curriculum

State and Local Graduation Requirements:
Student must pass each Keystone (or PBA in
subject) to graduate and receive their diploma
 Local requirements started Class of 2015
 State requirement Class of 2017
How many times can you take
the Keystone?

Generally, PHS students take the Keystone
up to 3 times before moving to a PBA.

Exceptions are often determined by an IEP or
administrative decision. The State of PA
requires at least 2 Keystone attempts.

Remediation is required prior to the 2nd
Keystone attempt.
How do we score at PHS?
Keystone Achievement
 Algebra I 2013: 69.7% 2014: 78.66%
 Literature 2013: 70.1% 2014: 78.9%
 Biology 2013: 54.6% 2014: 78.3%
 2013 reflects Class of 2014 (grad.)
 2014 reflects Class of 2015 (seniors)
 Achievement is measured your junior
year.

How do we score at PHS?
Keystone Growth
 Algebra I 2013: 8.3 DB 2014: 6.5 DB
 Literature 2013: -7.4 R 2014: 0.0 G
 Biology 2013: 5.9 DB 2014: 8.7 DB
 Each year reflects only first time test
takers and PVAAS Data.
 DB Dark Blue, High Growth G Green,
On Target Growth, R Red Did Not Grow

How do we score at PHS?
School Performance Profile
 Overall: 2013: 70.2 Green
 Overall: 2014: 75.3 Green
 Achievement and Growth contribute the
most to the SPP score.
 Learn more at PDE website.

Biology Preparation @ PAHS
Curriculum Alignment to PA State
Standards
 Academic Biology Course
 Standard Biology Course with a Team
Taught option
 Keystone Biology Lab Reactive and
Proactive Remediation
 Keystone Biology Lab to complete PBA’s

Biology Preparation @ PAHS
Improvements
All Biology students have a lab (3 periods/
cycle)
 Ms. Zinzella hired to direct reactive and
proactive remediation
 Teacher supported Biology Testing Modules
 keystonescience.wikispaces.com website for
additional support
 ~2 teachers per lab class remediation/PBAs

Biology Preparation @ PAHS
Improvements
Developed review packets for each
major exam module
 Use of Study Island/CDT
 Data driven instruction based on
strength/weakness on tests/
benchmarks/ CDTs
 Student are required to make a
notebook to review material

PAHS Keystone Biology LAB

Students receive course credit for efforts
in reactive and proactive remediation.

Grade based on Honor, Pass, Fail
PAHS Keystone Biology LAB
Uses data from eMetric, PVAAS, SI,
CDT
 Shows weakness/ strengths in module
work to help tailor review for each
student (10th/11th)
 PBA students work on project

PDE & SAS
PDE – Pennsylvania Department of Education
 SAS – Standards Aligned System
 Keystone Info on PDE website:

www.education.state.pa.us

Keystone Info on SAS website:
www.pdesas.org
keystonescience.wikispaces.com
Practice exams and questions
 Videos
 Powerpoints
 Study guides
 Worksheets
 Diagrams
 Charts
 Info will be on Canvas 2015-2016

What is Study Island?


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

Educational website that aligns to keystone
tests
Provides lessons, practice questions,
flashcards, games, tests, etc.
Accessible from anywhere with wi-fi or
internet
Assignment are tailored to student needs
Use benchmarking to assess those needs
What is CDT?

Stands for Classroom Diagnostic Tools

Test very similar to Keystone Exam

Give probability of scores on individual
modules prior to taking test

Provided by PA Dept. of Education

Used to individualize instruction to
identify strengths/ weaknesses
PVAAS, eMetric
PVAAS stands for PA Value Added
Assessment Score
 Measures probability of passing
standardized tests based on a multitude
of factors-- -emetric is a data collecting device that
provides analysis of previous test scores
 Can indicate factors that affect
preparation and testing

What is a PBA?
Stands for Project Based Assessment
 A biology project designed for students
to master standards and content. Work
through a variety of activities, questions,
labs, power points, etc and submit to
PDE for evaluation.
 Available to students who do not pass
Keystone Exam after 2 or 3 attempts
 PA teacher designed currently being
completed in packets. Will be on-line for
students in Class of 2017.

PBA Requirements
Students must complete all parts of PBA.
 Considered a secure assessment.
 Evaluated and submitted by the biology tutor
(PHS biology teacher) of the PBA
 Once acceptable to the tutor, PBA is sent to
the state level for evaluation
 Students are notified if pass/fail. If passed
student met grad. Requirements. If failed,
corrections and resubmission is required.

PBA Requirements
Administered like the Keystone Exam
secure assessment. All work completed
must be monitored and supervised by tutor.
 Tutors cannot assist in anyway other than
directions, remedial instruction, and
evaluation.
 PHS tutors can evaluate at various check
points of the PBA and direct student
review.
 On average, a PBA takes 6 to 8 hours to
complete.

Test Taking Tips
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Take your time! There is NO time limit
Use online tools to cross out answers, enlarge
diagrams, highlight material, etc.
Use process of elimination
NEVER leave an open response question blank
Search for answers and hints throughout the test
via other test questions!
If given a long paragraph, find the question before
reading it.
Check Your Work – All of it!
If you are nervous, breathe and relax before
beginning
Just try your best!