HB 1752 — An Act amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), known as the Public School Code of 1949, in preliminary provisions, providing for Keystone Exam alternative feasibility study.

PRIOR PRINTER'S NO.

2159 PRINTER'STHE NO.GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA HOUSE BILL Session of No.

30641752 THE2025 GENERALINTRODUCED ASSEMBLYBY OFCURRY, PENNSYLVANIAORTITAY, HOUSEPROBST, BILLCEPEDA-FREYTIZ SessionAND RIVERA, JULY 21, 2025 REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, JULY 22, 2025 AN ACT Amending the act of No.March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

1752 2025 INTRODUCED BY CURRY, ORTITAY, PROBST, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, RIVERA, JULY 21, 2025AYES, SAMUELSON, K.

HARRIS, BOROWSKI AND GREEN, AS REPORTED FROM COMMITTEE ON EDUCATION, HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, AS AMENDED, MARCH 24, 2026 AN ACT Amending the act of March 10, 1949 (P.L.30, No.14), entitled "An act relating to the public school system, including certain provisions applicable as well to private and parochial schools;

Keystone Exam Alternative Feasibility Study.--(a) The secretary shall contract for an independent study to determine whether the ACT and SAT may be administered <-- in lieu of ACT, SAT OR SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS MAY REPLACE <-- the current Statewide, standardized Keystone Exams in literature, algebra I and biology for high school students consistent with Federal requirements under 20 U.S.C.

§ 6311(b) <-- (2)(H) 6311(B) (relating to state plans).

<-- (b) The secretary shall submit, within one year after the effective date of this subsection, a report containing the results of the study and recommendations to the Governor, the chairperson and minority chairperson of the Education Committee of the Senate and,and the chairperson and minority chairperson of <-- the Education Committee of the House of RepresentativesRepresentatives. AND THE <-- STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION.

(1) An evaluation of the degree to which the ACT and SAT, <-- SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS align with Pennsylvania core academic standards and are suitable for use in lieu of the Statewide Keystone Exams in literature, algebra I and biology.

(2) Studies, research and analyses required to determine the extent to which the ACT and SAT test results,results SAT AND SMARTER <-- BALANCED ASSESSMENTS provide comparable, valid and reliable data on student achievement as compared to the Keystone Exams for all students and for each subgroup of students.

(3) A determination of whether the ACT and SAT, SAT AND <-- SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS provide testing accommodations that permit students with disabilities and English learners the opportunity to participate in each assessment and receive comparable benefits.

(4) Analyses to determine whether the ACT and SAT, SAT AND <-- SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS provide unbiased, rational and consistent differentiation among schools within the Commonwealth's accountability system.

(5) An evaluation to determine whether the ACT and SAT, SAT <-- AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS meet the criteria for technical quality that all Statewide assessments must meet for Federal assessment peer review.

(6) AN ESTIMATE OF THE NUMBER OF ADDITIONAL STUDENTS WHO <-- 20250HB1752PN3064 - 2 - WOULD BE TAKING THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS COMPARED TO CURRENT KEYSTONE EXAM PARTICIPATION RATES.

(7) AN EXAMINATION OF THE POTENTIAL ANNUAL COST TO THE COMMONWEALTH OF ADMINISTERING THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 (PUBLIC LAW 89-10, 20 U.S.C.

§ 6301 ET SEQ.), AS AMENDED BY THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT (PUBLIC LAW 114-95, 129 STAT.

1802).

THE EXAMINATION SHALL INCLUDE AN ANALYSIS OF ANNUAL COSTS INCURRED BY STATES USING THE ACT OR SAT AND HOW COSTS HAVE CHANGED OVER TIME.

(8) A SUMMARY OF HOW THE DEPARTMENT AND SCHOOL ENTITIES WOULD TRANSITION TO THE USE OF NEW ASSESSMENTS FOR PURPOSES OF COMPLIANCE WITH THE TESTING AND ACCOUNTABILITY REQUIREMENTS OF THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965, AS AMENDED BY THE EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT, INCLUDING A PROPOSED TIMELINE AND AN ESTIMATE OF TRANSITION COSTS.

(9) A SUMMARY AND COMPARISON OF TESTING PROCEDURES FOR THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS, INCLUDING WHEN TESTS ARE PROCTORED AND TIMELINES FOR THE RELEASE OF RESULTS.

(10) A SUMMARY AND COMPARISON OF THE EXISTING RESEARCH ON THE CORRELATION BETWEEN PERFORMANCE ON THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS AND PERFORMANCE ON THE KEYSTONE EXAMS.

(11) A LISTING OF THE LANGUAGES IN WHICH THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS ARE AVAILABLE.

(12) AN ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON OF THOSE ASSESSMENTS THAT USE A COMPARATIVE-PERCENTILE MEASURE OF STUDENT PERFORMANCE AND THOSE ASSESSMENTS THAT USE A PROFICIENCY DETERMINATION TO MEASURE STUDENT PERFORMANCE.

(13) AN ANALYSIS OF THE EFFECTIVENESS OF THE ACT, SAT AND 20250HB1752PN3064 - 3 - SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT FOR PURPOSES OF AGGREGATE STUDENT COMPARISON.

(14) A DESCRIPTION OF HOW THE DEPARTMENT WOULD USE ACT, SAT OR SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENT RESULTS IN AREAS SUCH AS EDUCATOR EVALUATION, FUTURE-READY INDEX AND IDENTIFICATION OF LOW- PERFORMING SCHOOLS.

(15) RECOMMENDED AMENDMENTS TO STATE LAW AND REGULATIONS RELATED TO STATEWIDE ACADEMIC STANDARDS, ASSESSMENTS AND GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS THAT WOULD BE NECESSARY FOR ADMINISTRATION OF THE ACT, SAT AND SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS IN LIEU OF THE CURRENT KEYSTONE EXAMS.

"DEPARTMENT.""Keystone THEExam." DEPARTMENTAn OFassessment EDUCATIONdeveloped OFor THEcaused <--to COMMONWEALTH.be 20250HB1752PN2159 - 2 - developed by the Department of Education under 22 Pa.

"FUTURE-READYCode INDEX."§ THE4.51b(a) SCHOOL(relating PROGRESSto REPORTKeystone DEVELOPEDExams). BY THE DEPARTMENT AND POSTED ANNUALLY ON THE DEPARTMENT'S PUBLICLY ACCESSIBLE INTERNET WEBSITE.

"Keystone Exam." An assessment developed or caused to be developed by the Department of Education DEPARTMENT under 22 Pa.

<-- Code § 4.51b(a) (relating to Keystone Exams).

"SMARTER BALANCED ASSESSMENTS." A SYSTEM OF COMPUTER-BASED <-- TESTS FOR ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS, LITERACY AND MATHEMATICS, ALIGNED WITH THE COMMON CORE STATE STANDARDS, DESIGNED TO 20250HB1752PN3064 - 4 - MEASURE COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS IN GRADES THREE THROUGH EIGHT AND ELEVEN.

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