Pennsylvania Invites Public Feedback On Soon-To-Be Mandatory High School Graduation Tests

By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- Pennsylvania's new statewide curriculum and high school graduation exams have generated so much controversy, the state board of education has launched a website to take public comments.

States across the country have faced backlash against the so-called Common Core curriculum and the high-stakes tests that go along with it. Pennsylvania is no exception, even though Education Department spokesman Tim Eller says it tailored the standards to state needs.

"The department and the State Board of Education pulled together educators from across Pennsylvania to look at the Common Core and to look at what Pennsylvania had already in place," he says, "and create a hybrid specific for Pennsylvania students."

The resulting Keystone Exams become mandatory for graduation in 2017. Eller says negativity and concern has persisted, so the state wants more input from teachers, parents and students.

Depending on what the feedback says, we'll make the decision to change what's currently there," he says, "or leave alone what's currently there."

The state is taking input online through January 15th.

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