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All students are required by the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) to take the Keystone Exams in the areas of Algebra, Literature, and Biology for federal accountability. These exams are end-of-course tests designed to measure proficiency on state standards in those three content areas.

Below are four scenarios that outline why a student was identified to take a Keystone Exam during the winter administration period:

1. If your student took Algebra I, 10th Grade English (Literature), and/or Biology last year at Manheim Township during the 2023-2024 school year, he/she was identified to participate in the May 2024 administration. However, our records indicate that your student did not take the Keystone Exam(s) during the designated test dates in May 2024. Therefore, your student is required to test during the administration of the 2024 Winter Keystone Exams, scheduled to take place in December 2024.
2. Newly enrolled students who took one of the Keystone “trigger” courses (e.g., Algebra I, Biology) in another Pennsylvania public school but did not participate in the Keystone Exam in May 2024 at their former school
3. Newly enrolled students that took one of the Keystone “trigger” courses in a Pennsylvania private school during the 2022-2024 school year in grades 8-10.
4. Newly enrolled students who took a similar Keystone “trigger” course from an out-of-state school during the 2023-2024 school year, or the student took a state exam, and either did not achieve proficiency or did not provide confirmation of a proficient score.

When will the Keystone Exams occur?

There are three school days when Keystone testing will take place at Manheim Township High School. These exams will be administered during the normal school day; there will be no adjusted schedule. Each exam consists of two modules that will be administered on the same testing-day.

• Literature: Tuesday, December 10th
• Biology: Wednesday, December 11th
• Algebra l: Thursday, December 12th

Where can students check to see if they are scheduled to test?

Student lists will be posted outside of the high school’s main office on Thursday, December 5th, 2024. Subject testing dates will be noted on the list.

Where do students report for testing?

Testing for all exams will occur in Convocation Hall, beginning promptly at 7:45 a.m.

What is the daily schedule for students who are testing?

Testing students will report to school at the “regular” time on all testing days and go directly to Convocation Hall. Testing will begin promptly at 7:45 a.m. in Convocation Hall. When finished, students will return to class.

How can my child prepare for the Keystone Exams?

1. Encourage your child to take time to review the Pennsylvania Online Assessment links available for the Keystone Exams. Public access is available by using the URL available to review all state assessments, Keystone Exams, PSSA, and CDTs at https://wbte.drcedirect.com/PA/portals/pa.
2. Students already have the DRC Insight application available on their iPads, look for a dark blue icon with a white circle ‘DRC INSIGHT.’ The application serves as both the training and testing site.
3. To access both training areas, click on the actual words ‘Online Tools Training’ below the icon and the DRC INSIGHT Online Assessments Tutorials highlighted below Online Tools Training in yellow.
4. The training links are paramount in preparing for a successful online testing experience.

Other Important Information about the Keystone Exams:

1. Students must arrive on time.
2. The exams will be taken on the students’ iPads. Students will need to bring their iPad fully charged on all testing days. Students should also bring their chargers just in case they need to plug in.
3. All students are permitted as much time as they need to complete each module.
4. Students will have access to a calculator on their iPad but may choose to bring their own calculator (the calculator must be “cleared” before the testing session begins).
5. Possession of other electronic devices (cell phones, smartwatches, etc.) could result in the test being invalidated. If any test material is compromised, students/families could be responsible for the cost of replacing compromised test items.

Student Participation – Religious Exclusion

The PDE only allows a student’s exclusion from taking the Keystone Exam if the Parent/Guardian has determined the Keystone Exam conflicts with their religious beliefs. Parents/Guardians have the right to submit a request for their student(s) to be excluded from testing by using the following procedures:

1. Contact by email or call Laura Rakoczy, HS Assistant Principal, at rakoczla@mtwp.net or 717-560-3097 to schedule a review of the test(s) from 12/2/24 to 12/6/24.
2. Write a request letter or request email for the exclusion for building receipt by Monday, December 9th, 2024. (Additional information will be provided after document review.)
3. Write the request to the attention of Dr. Robin Felty, Superintendent. The request must include the student’s full name, grade level, and scheduled Keystone subject(s), and the reason the student will not participate in the Keystone Exam(s).
4. Include a parent/guardian signature, address, email address, and phone number.

Please note that the student who does not participate will still be required to meet one of PDE’s Pathways to Graduation. Students who do not take the Keystone Exam(s) will need to meet all of the requirements of Pathways 3, 4, or 5 to graduate since they will not be eligible for Pathways 1 or 2.

If you or your student have any other questions or concerns about the Keystone Exams, please contact Ms. Laura Rakoczy, HS Assistant Principal, at rakoczla@mtwp.net or 717-560-3097.