Newsradio 1020 Editorial: Keystone Exams

School districts should be accountable –

For the education they provide Pennsylvania's students.

But the Keystone Exams aren't the answer.

The Pennsylvania Board of Education spent years creating exams –

For Algebra 1 –

Biology –

And literature.

Starting next school year –

A student couldn't graduate without passing the tests –

Or an alternative "project-based assessment."

To be prepared –

Districts have been testing students for a couple of years.

It hasn't gone well.

Students – especially in urban and poor school districts –

Were failing –

And the districts were overwhelmed –

Trying to accommodate remedial work or the alternative projects.

Educators – parents – and students – turned to Harrisburg for help.

In a rare show of solidarity –

State legislators unanimously passed legislation –

Delaying the exams for two years –

And Governor Tom Wolf signed the measure.

It was the right move.

Everyone still agrees –

That accountability is necessary.

This gives state education officials six months –

To present lawmakers with better options –

Than the Keystone Exams.