1. A Parents’ Guide to Keystone Biology Exam and Project Based Assessments (PBA)

2. Keystone Biology  What is the Keystone?  Who takes the Keystone?  When/Where do students take the Keystone?  Why the Keystone?  How many times can you take the Keystone?  How is Keystone used?

3. What is the Keystone? What is a PBA?  Keystone is an end-of-course exam/test to evaluate and demonstrate student proficiency in achieving the PA State Core Standards for Biology, Algebra I and Literature  PBA is an alternate project based assessment used in place of the Keystone to evaluate and demonstrate student proficiency in achieving the PA State Core Standards for Biology, Algebra I and Literature

4.  Graduation Requirement for students.  Measure student “Achievement” success.  A piece of testing data that determines academic “Growth” for students  A piece of testing data used to measure Teacher Effectiveness, TPP.  A piece of testing data used to measure School Effectiveness, SPP. How is the Keystone used?

5. Who takes the Keystone? or completes a PBA (project based assessment)?  Algebra I: 8 th, 9 th, 10 th for first time test takers. 9 th, 10 th and 11 th for retakes.  Literature: 10 th for first time test takers. 11 th for retakes.  Biology: 9 th, 10 th for first time test takers. 10 th, 11 th for retakes.  PBA- 11 th, 12 th if not proficient on Keystone.

6. Where do they take the Keystone?  Students will take the keystone in a PHS school setting with trained proctors/administrators  Online @ PAHS  Notices, Testing Tips, Rules/ Regulations of testing are provided to parents and students.

7. When do they take the Keystone?  The Keystone is administered 3 times throughout the school year  The testing windows are during December/January (Winter), May (Spring), August (Summer)  Winter tests are for retakes  Spring tests are for all end of year first time test takers and retakes.  PHS does not test during summer test window

8. Why the Keystone?  Aligns to PA Core Standards – show’s student mastery of required skill sets in each subject  Helps us to know where we need to adjust our curriculum  State and Local Graduation Requirements: Student must pass each Keystone (or PBA in subject) to graduate and receive their diploma Local requirements started Class of 2015 State requirement Class of 2017

9. How many times can you take the Keystone?  Generally, PHS students take the Keystone up to 3 times before moving to a PBA.  Exceptions are often determined by an IEP or administrative decision. The State of PA requires at least 2 Keystone attempts.  Remediation is required prior to the 2 nd Keystone attempt.

10. How do we score at PHS?  Keystone Achievement  Algebra I 2013: 69.7% 2014: 78.66%  Literature 2013: 70.1% 2014: 78.9%  Biology 2013: 54.6% 2014: 78.3%  2013 reflects Class of 2014 (grad.)  2014 reflects Class of 2015 (seniors)  Achievement is measured your junior year.

11. How do we score at PHS?  Keystone Growth  Algebra I 2013: 8.3 DB 2014: 6.5 DB  Literature 2013: -7.4 R 2014: 0.0 G  Biology 2013: 5.9 DB 2014: 8.7 DB  Each year reflects only first time test takers and PVAAS Data.  DB Dark Blue, High Growth G Green, On Target Growth, R Red Did Not Grow

12. How do we score at PHS?  School Performance Profile  Overall: 2013: 70.2 Green  Overall: 2014: 75.3 Green  Achievement and Growth contribute the most to the SPP score.  Learn more at PDE website.

13. Biology Preparation @ PAHS  Curriculum Alignment to PA State Standards  Academic Biology Course  Standard Biology Course with a Team Taught option  Keystone Biology Lab Reactive and Proactive Remediation  Keystone Biology Lab to complete PBA’s

14. Biology Preparation @ PAHS Improvements  All Biology students have a lab (3 periods/ cycle)  Ms. Zinzella hired to direct reactive and proactive remediation  Teacher supported Biology Testing Modules  keystonescience.wikispaces.com website for additional support  ~2 teachers per lab class remediation/PBAs

15. Biology Preparation @ PAHS Improvements  Developed review packets for each major exam module  Use of Study Island/CDT  Data driven instruction based on strength/weakness on tests/ benchmarks/ CDTs  Student are required to make a notebook to review material

16. PAHS Keystone Biology LAB  Students receive course credit for efforts in reactive and proactive remediation.  Grade based on Honor, Pass, Fail

17. PAHS Keystone Biology LAB  Uses data from eMetric, PVAAS, SI, CDT  Shows weakness/ strengths in module work to help tailor review for each student (10 th /11 th )  PBA students work on project

18. PDE & SAS  PDE – Pennsylvania Department of Education  SAS – Standards Aligned System  Keystone Info on PDE website: www.education.state.pa.us  Keystone Info on SAS website: www.pdesas.org

19. keystonescience.wikispaces.com  Practice exams and questions  Videos  Powerpoints  Study guides  Worksheets  Diagrams  Charts  Info will be on Canvas 2015-2016

20. What is Study Island?Study Island  Educational website that aligns to keystone tests  Provides lessons, practice questions, flashcards, games, tests, etc.  Accessible from anywhere with wi-fi or internet  Assignment are tailored to student needs  Use benchmarking to assess those needs

21. What is CDT?CDT  Stands for Classroom Diagnostic Tools  Test very similar to Keystone Exam  Give probability of scores on individual modules prior to taking test  Provided by PA Dept. of Education  Used to individualize instruction to identify strengths/ weaknesses

22. PVAASPVAAS, eMetriceMetric  PVAAS stands for PA Value Added Assessment Score  Measures probability of passing standardized tests based on a multitude of factors---  -emetric is a data collecting device that provides analysis of previous test scores  Can indicate factors that affect preparation and testing

23. What is a PBA?  Stands for Project Based Assessment  A biology project designed for students to master standards and content. Work through a variety of activities, questions, labs, power points, etc and submit to PDE for evaluation.  Available to students who do not pass Keystone Exam after 2 or 3 attempts  PA teacher designed currently being completed in packets. Will be on-line for students in Class of 2017.

24. PBA Requirements  Students must complete all parts of PBA.  Considered a secure assessment.  Evaluated and submitted by the biology tutor (PHS biology teacher) of the PBA  Once acceptable to the tutor, PBA is sent to the state level for evaluation  Students are notified if pass/fail. If passed student met grad. Requirements. If failed, corrections and resubmission is required.

25. PBA Requirements  Administered like the Keystone Exam secure assessment. All work completed must be monitored and supervised by tutor.  Tutors cannot assist in anyway other than directions, remedial instruction, and evaluation.  PHS tutors can evaluate at various check points of the PBA and direct student review.  On average, a PBA takes 6 to 8 hours to complete.

27. Test Taking Tips  Take your time! There is NO time limit  Use online tools to cross out answers, enlarge diagrams, highlight material, etc.  Use process of elimination  NEVER leave an open response question blank  Search for answers and hints throughout the test via other test questions!  If given a long paragraph, find the question before reading it.  Check Your Work – All of it!  If you are nervous, breathe and relax before beginning  Just try your best!