Act 158: Pathways to Graduation Toolkit
Act 158 of 2018 and Act 6 of 2017 provide alternatives to Pennsylvania’s statewide requirement of attaining proficiency on the three end-of-course Keystone Exams (Algebra I, Literature, and Biology). Effective with the graduating class of 2023, students have the option to demonstrate postsecondary preparedness through one of four additional pathways that more fully illustrate college, career, and community readiness.
This toolkit and its related resources provide guidance on the five pathways to graduation as well as opportunities to meet statewide graduation requirements for students who may be experiencing extenuating circumstances or participating in a special education program that does not otherwise meet the requirements of Act 158.
Questions related to Act 158 may be directed to ra-edgradrequirement@pa.gov.
NOTE: Effective July 1, 2022, there are two significant changes to the statewide high school graduation requirements:
- A Keystone Composite comprised of two numeric scores
- An extension of the pandemic as an extenuating circumstance
For additional detail, reference the New and Noteworthy section available below.
- Add New and Noteworthy Content Item
- New and Noteworthy
- New and Noteworthy - May 2023 Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Frequently Asked Questions - Revised May 2023 Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- New and Noteworthy - March 2023 Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- New and Noteworthy - July 2022 Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Pennsylvania Pathways to Graduation Graphic Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Graduation Trail (A Student's Journey) Graphic Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Frequently Asked Questions - July 2022 Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Add Act 158: Pathways to Graduation Toolkit Content Item
- Act 158: Pathways to Graduation Toolkit
- Interactive Act 158 Toolkit opens in new window
- Act 158 Toolkit (PDF version) Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Pennsylvania Pathways to Graduation Graphic Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Pathways to Graduation Guide Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Graduation Trail (A Student's Journey) Graphic Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- CCR and Graduation - Student Evidence Comparison Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Add Industry-Recognized Credentials Content Item
- Industry-Recognized Credentials
- Industry credentials attained for Act 158 must also report to the Future Ready PA Index, as described in the Industry-Based Learning Indicator. Non-CTE schools should utilize the “Guidance Identifying and Reporting Industry Credentials for Non-CTE Students” to identify and approve industry credentials.
- Industry-Based Learning Indicator for the Future Ready PA Index opens in new window
- Industry-Recognized Credential for Career and Technical Education Programs Resource Guide opens in new window
- Guidance for Identifying and Reporting Industry-Based Learning Credentials for Non-CTE Students Downloads a Word file
- Add Sample Documents Content Item
- Sample Documents
- Letter Guaranteeing Full-Time Employment Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Letter Guaranteeing Full-Time Employment (Word) Downloads a Word file
- Non-Conditional Acceptance into Explicit Programs Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Non-Conditional Acceptance into Explicit Programs (Word) Downloads a Word file
- Service Learning Project Application Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Service Learning Project Application (Word) Downloads a Word file
- Written Confirmation of General Admittance Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Written Confirmation of General Admittance (Word) Downloads a Word file
- Add Professional Development Content Item
- Professional Development
- Act 158 Training
- High School Graduation Requirements: 8/23/2022 and 9/20/2022
- High School Graduation Requirements: 8/23/2022 and 9/20/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- High School Graduation Requirements: 8/23/2022 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Numeric, Non-Numeric, and Locally Established Grade-Based Requirements
- Numeric, Non-Numeric, and Locally Established Grade-Based Requirements 10/18/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Numeric, Non-Numeric, and Locally Established Grade-Based Requirements 10/18/2022 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Other Diploma Opportunities
- Other Diploma Opportunities 10/25/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Other Diploma Opportunities 10/25/2022 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Alternate Assessment & Evidence-Based Pathway Criteria
- Alternate Assessment & Evidence-Based Pathway Criteria 11/1/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Alternate Assessment & Evidence-Based Pathway Criteria 11/1/2022 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- CTE Concentrator Pathway & Other Pathway's Work-Based Learning Criteria
- CTE Concentrator Pathway & Other Pathway's Work-Based Learning Criteria 11/8/22 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- CTE Concentrator Pathway & Other Pathway's Work-Based Learning Criteria 11/8/22 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Misconceptions & Frequently Asked Questions
- Misconceptions & Frequently Asked Questions 11/15/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Misconceptions & Frequently Asked Questions 11/15/22 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- The Tracking Tool
- The Tracking Tool 12/13/2022 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- The Tracking Tool 12/13/2022 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- The Grad Report
- The Grad Report 1/10/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- The Grad Report 1/10/2023 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- EL, Migrant, and Undocumented Students
- EL, Migrant, and Undocumented Students 1/31/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- EL, Migrant, and Undocumented Students 1/31/2023 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Frequently Asked Questions 5/2/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Frequently Asked Questions 5/2/2023 - Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Pathway to the Pathways – Using PVAAS to Better Inform the Graduation Pathways
- Pathway to the Pathways – Using PVAAS to Better Inform the Graduation Pathways 5/10/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Pathway to the Pathways – Using PVAAS to Better Inform the Graduation Pathways - 5/10/2023 Recorded Webinar opens in new window
- Add Refresher Presentations Content Item
- Refresher Presentations
- These slide decks highlight pathway information presented in prior webinars. Recorded webinars are available in the Professional Development tab.
- Pathways Refresher - 4/11/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Graduation Data Refresher - 4/18/2023 Downloads a PowerPoint file
- Add Training Schedule Content Item
- Training Schedule
- April-May 2023 Webinar Schedule Opens up a PDF file in a new tab
- Add Pathways to Graduation Tracking Tool Content Item
- Pathways to Graduation Tracking Tool
- Schools may elect to use the PDE-provided tracking tool. This tool, for local use only, will assist in determining pathway options for students by identifying those students not meeting Keystone Exam or Keystone Composite score requirements and allowing the counselor to record additional data to track each student’s progress toward viable graduation pathways.
- Accessing the Pathways to Graduation Tracking Tool opens in new window
- MyPDESuite opens in new window
- Pathways to Graduation Tool User Manual opens in new window
- Add Assessment Data Sources Content Item
- Assessment Data Sources
- Multiple reliable data sources exist to confirm Keystone Exam status – including DRC eDirect, eMetric’s Data Interaction, and PIMSReportsV2. Access to Keystone Exam data, exemption status, and results for students not tested at the local LEA are addressed in this brief FAQ.
- Data Sources FAQ Opens up a PDF file in a new tab