Grab a No. 2 pencil and underline this: the Keystones are unfair

While the legislature fiddles, teachers and students suffer By Mike McGann, Editor, The Times The good news is that the kids got to sleep in a bit on a school day. And while it’s becoming increasingly clear that our teens don’t get enough sleep — and a movement to delay the start time in Chester County high schools is slowly gaining momentum — that my twins, freshmen at Unionville High School...

Dinniman lauds signing of Keystone delay into law

Gov. Wolf  signed into law Wednesday legislation to put a two-year hold on the high school graduation requirement associated with the Keystone Exams in order to give the legislature and the Department of Education time to explore more effective methods of student assessment. Senate Bill 880, championed by state Sen. Andy Dinniman (D-19) and unanimously passed by the legislature in January, was signed...

Officials warn of likely drops in student PSSA scores

DOWNINGTOWN — Parents of students across Chester County may be in for a bit of a shock when they see their child’s PSSA scores, officials warn. Chester County superintendents and their counterparts across the commonwealth issued a warning to parents Friday that their children’s state assessment scores, known as the PSSAs, may drop when they receive their student’s official scores this...

Senate committee backs local graduation requirements

WEST CHESTER – State Sen. Andy Dinniman announced that the Senate Education Committee voted 8-2 Friday to return control of high school graduation requirements to local school districts. “This is a victory for so many students, parents, teachers and education advocates throughout the Commonwealth and especially here in Chester County, which has become the epicenter of the movement against make-or-break...