Most Harriton students are familiar with the “Keystones”, proficiency-based examinations the majority of Pennsylvania public high schools administer to their students. As of now, the exams are a statewide graduation requirement for students in the class of 2017 and onward.

In recent weeks, the exams have received a great deal of opposition from various Pennsylvania school districts and organizations, including the Radnor Township School Board and the Pennsylvania branches of the NAACP.

Last Monday, the NAACP submitted a statement to the Pennsylvania School Board, advising them not to implement the Keystones as a statewide graduation requirement.  According to the Delaware County Daily Times, Joan Duvall-Flynn stated that, “One examination cannot identify whether or not a human being has learned well… Some people don’t do well on paper and pencil tests, but they can demonstrate knowledge and they can use the information.” Ms. Duvall-Flynn is the chair of the state NAACP Education Committee.

The Pennsylvania Department of Education’s most recent test results indicate the following: 38.6 percent of 94,939 students passed the Algebra I assessment, 35.7 percent of 46,998 students passed the biology test, and 49.9 percent of 42,815 tested students passed the English literature assessment.

This means that less than fifty percent of assessed students were deemed proficient in their academic abilities. Schools will need to fund and implement remedial programs for students who scored lower than is acceptable. In addition to Ms. Duvall-Flynn’s argument that standardized tests are not an accurate measure of all students’ abilities, many who oppose the exam have made the point that the program is essentially an “unfunded mandate.” High Schools that cannot afford to provide students with additional learning support will likely face financial obstacles in the near future.

Several court hearings regarding the exams have already been held this past August. It is expected that the Pennsylvania School Board will finalize their decision sometime this week.