ENGLISH Act 158 Graduation Requirements Class of 2023

Dear Parents/Guardians,

In 2018, Act 158 was signed into law by the governor, outlining state graduation requirements that go into effect for students in the Class of 2023 and beyond. To graduate from high school, students must meet all local graduation requirements related to credits and coursework along with the state requirements outlined in Act 158. In Philadelphia those requirements include earning a total of 23.5 credits, in the appropriate courses and successfully completing a Service Learning Project.

Students must also meet one of Pennsylvania’s five pathways outlined below to earn a diploma and demonstrate career and/or college readiness. More information regarding Pennsylvania’s state graduation requirements can be found at www.philasd.org/gradreq.

Administrators, school counselors, and other members of the school’s team will be working closely with each student to review and help students decide which pathway is best to meet this state-wide graduation requirement.

Please don’t hesitate to call the school and make an appointment to speak with your child’s counselor if you have questions about Act 158 and/or your student’s pathway to graduation. A separate correspondence will be sent to the parents of current seniors, juniors, and sophomores, informing them of the students’ current status relative to the graduation requirement and recommended pathways.

The School District’s Offices of Family Engagement and Postsecondary Readiness will host the following information sessions in the upcoming weeks, in order to help students and families have a better understanding of the PA state requirements.  Registration for the following events will be sent

Family Information Session – October 19, 2022; 12:00PM-1:00PM (LINK)
Family Information Session – October 19, 2022;  5:30PM-6:30 PM (LINK)
Family Office Hours – October 20, 2022; 10:00AM -11:00AM and 5:00PM-6:00PM (LINK)
Family Office Hours – October 27, 2022; 10:00AM -11:00AM and 5:00PM-6:00PM (LINK)
FACT Information Session-  November 15, 2022; 10:00AM-11:00AM (LINK) 6:00PM-7:00 PM (LINK)

ACT 158 – State Graduation Pathways

Students graduating in 2023 and beyond, must meet one of the following  pathway options to meet state graduation requirements:

Keystone Proficiency Pathway 1: Scoring proficient or advanced on all three Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology)

Keystone Composite Pathway 2: Earning a satisfactory composite score (4452) on the Algebra I, Literature, and Biology Keystone Exams (while achieving at least one proficient/advanced score and no score of below basic on the remaining two)

Career and Technical Education Pathway 3:  CTE Concentrators (students who have completed 50% or more of the enrolled CTE program):  Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam (i.e., Passing final course grades in Algebra I, Biology, and English 2) and ONE of the following:

Attainment of an industry-based competency certification
Demonstration of the high likelihood of success on an industry-based competency assessment
Readiness for continued engagement in the CTE Concentrator’s program of study

Alternate Assessment Pathway 4: Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam (i.e. passing final course grades in Algebra I, Biology, and English 2) AND one of the following:

Attainment of an established score on an approved alternate assessment: SAT (1010), PSAT (970), ACT (21), ASVAB (31)
Gold Level on the ACT WorkKeys Assessment
Attainment of 3 or better on an Advanced Placement Program exam in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score
Attainment of 4 or better on an International Baccalaureate Exam in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam on which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score
Successful completion of a concurrent enrollment course (college dual-enrollment class) in an academic content area associated with each Keystone Exam in which the student did not achieve at least a proficient score
Successful completion of a pre-apprenticeship program
Acceptance in an accredited 4-year nonprofit institution of higher education and evidence of the ability to enroll in college-level coursework

Evidence Based Pathway 5: Successful completion of locally established, grade-based requirements for academic content areas associated with each Keystone Exam (i.e., Passing final course grades in Algebra I, Biology, and English 2) AND demonstration of three (3) pieces of evidence consistent with the student’s goals and career plans, including:

ONE or more of the following:
▪ Attainment of Silver Level on the ACT WorkKeys assessment

▪ Attainment of 3 or better on any Advanced Placement Program Exam

▪ Attainment of 3 or better on any International Baccalaureate Exam

▪ Acceptance to an other-than-4-year Institution of Higher Education (IHE) for college-level coursework

▪ Attainment of an industry-recognized credential

▪ Successful completion of any concurrent enrollment or postsecondary course

And no more than TWO additional pieces of evidence from the following:
▪ Satisfactory completion of a service-learning project

▪ Attainment of a score of proficient or advanced on any Keystone Exam

▪ Letter guaranteeing full-time employment or military enlistment

▪ Successful completion of an internship or cooperative education program

▪ Satisfactory compliance with the NCAA’s Division II academic requirements

We are committed to ensuring a high level of support to students and families in preparation for students’ graduation.

Sincerely,

Mrs. Kristin Williams Smalley

School Principal