According to Act 158 of 2018 (Act 158), starting with the Class of 2023 students must graduate through one of five pathways, Those pathways include: Keystone Proficiency, Keystone Satisfactory Composite, Alternative Assessment, Career and Technical Pathway, and Evidence-Based Pathways.

Waivers are available under specific circumstances at the discretion of a school superintendent or other chief school administrator on a case-by-case basis for good cause. Waivers may be granted for a student in grade 12 to accommodate a student who experiences extenuating circumstances (e.g., serious illness, death in the student’s immediate family, family emergency, frequent school transfers, transfer from out-of-state in grade 12).

Also, any student with a disability who satisfactorily completes a special education program developed by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team and who does not otherwise meet the new statewide requirements (Act 158 or Act 6) shall be provided a regular high school diploma. A student with a disability also has the right to participate in commencement ceremonies with the student’s graduating class and receive a certificate of attendance even if the student is not graduating until later.

An English learner (EL) is required to participate in the Mathematics PSSA or Algebra I Keystone Exam and the Science PSSA or Biology Keystone Exam, with accommodations as appropriate, regardless of their enrollment date. However, an EL student whose enrollment in any U.S. public school is for fewer than 12 cumulative (not consecutive) months by the end of the year in which the PSSA ELA/Keystone Literature testing window occurs has an option to take the associated exam. An EL may be exempted only once from participation in the PSSA ELA or Keystone Literature Exam.

In addition, Act 1 of 2022 (provides additional pathways to graduation and extra school supports for students experiencing educational instability (i.e., homelessness or students who have been involved in the foster care or juvenile justice systems). According to an Education Law Center (ELC) Fact Sheet, the Act requires schools to accept full and partial credits a student earned in a prior school and to consider waiving locally required courses or consider how a student may demonstrate proficiency to earn credit in a different manner. If a student cannot fulfill all the courses required for graduation at their current school, the student may graduate from a prior school or, as a last resort, apply for a statewide diploma.

To learn more about Act 158 from the ELC click here or about Act 1 of 2022 click here.
To learn more from PDE about graduation requirements for special education students, click here.