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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 5, 2009
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Orie Testing Measure Advances Out of House Committee

New graduation requirements would require legislative approval

The House Education Committee today reported a bill sponsored by State Senator Jane C. Orie (R-40) that would require that any new high school graduation requirement be established by an act of the General Assembly.

The Rendell Administration has proposed a new testing scheme, Keystone Exams, a series of 10 tests that would take the place of high school final exams.  All students would be required to take 4 tests.  In school districts that administer the 10 tests, students would have to pass 6 to graduate.  Tests would count as 1/3rd of the final course grade.

"Many education organizations have major concerns about this high-stakes testing scheme," said Sen. Orie.  "Furthermore, over 200 school boards have adopted resolutions opposing the exams.  It is important that any major change in education policy, such as this, have broad support from both the education community and the legislature, otherwise it will not truly stand the test of time."

The Rendell Administration has been working with the State Board of Education to implement the Keystone Exams through a regulation (rather than legislation).  Senate Bill 281 would make clear that any new graduation requirement be enacted as a law.

"While I support high academic standards and accountability, with a $3.2 billion deficit facing the state, we cannot afford to start a new testing scheme," said Sen. Orie, who noted that the cost to develop the tests is $201 million over 7 years.   "Furthermore, while the Rendell Administration says that we need a set of new tests, it just announced last week that our current tests, the PSSA’s, are working.  At this time, we need to focus our scarce resources on proven instruction that works, not on new tests."

CONTACT:

Nate Silcox
(717) 787-6538