Act 158 - Pathways to Graduation
Act 158 - Pathways to Graduation
Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on October 24, 2018, provides alternatives to Pennsylvania's statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology) for a student to achieve statewide graduation requirements.
Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness. Keystone Exams will continue as the statewide assessment Pennsylvania uses to comply with accountability requirements set forth in the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). Although students will no longer be required to achieve proficiency on the Keystone Exams to meet the statewide graduation requirement, students must take the Keystone Exams for purposes of federal accountability. Failure to do so will affect a Local Education Agency (LEA) and school's participation rate.
The Act 158 Toolkit was designed to provide guidance as a result of the enactments of Act 158 and Act 6 of 2017 (Act 6), which established alternative pathways to meeting statewide graduation requirements for students who are Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators.
Source: PA Department of Education
Statewide High School Graduation Requirements
Act 158, signed into law by Governor Tom Wolf on October 24, 2018, provides alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement for students to demonstrate proficiency on the three Keystone Exams; Algebra I, Literature, and Biology in order to meet graduation requirements.
Starting with the Class of 2023, students may demonstrate postsecondary readiness through four additional pathways that highlight college, career, and community preparedness. While Keystone Exams remain Pennsylvania’s official statewide assessments for federal accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), students are no longer required to achieve proficiency on these exams to graduate. However, students must still take the Keystone Exams, as participation is necessary for the school and Local Education Agency (LEA) accountability rates.
The Act 158 Toolkit was created to provide guidance on these alternative pathways, building on Act 158 and Act 6 of 2017, which established graduation alternatives for Career and Technical Education (CTE) concentrators.
Pathway Criteria
