Notice is hereby given that the State Board of Education (Board) will conduct several regional public hearings to receive input from interested parties on draft proposed revisions to Chapter 4 (Academic Standards and Assessment) pertaining to Keystone Exams. A copy of the draft proposed regulation that will be the subject of this hearing is available on the Board’s web site at www.education.state.pa.us (or scroll down and click on the link below). The list of hearing sites, dates and deadlines for registering are included with this notice.

Individuals must register in advance to present testimony at the hearing. Testimony is limited to no more than 10 minutes, and participants will be assigned a time slot when they register. Each hearing will conclude after the last scheduled witness testifies. In order to accommodate as many people as possible, individuals representing an organization or affiliation are limited to one 10 minute time slot and that organization may only present testimony at one hearing location.

Persons interested in presenting testimony must telephone the Board office at (7l7) 787-3787 (TTY 717-783-8445), Monday through Friday (excluding holidays), between 8:30 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. by the registration deadline listed for each location below.

Those registered to testify must provide 25 copies of their written testimony at the hearing.

Individuals with disabilities needing special accommodations in order to participate or attend the hearings, such as sign language interpreter services, must contact the Board office at the above listed telephone number by the registration deadline for each hearing. Alternative formats of the documents (e.g. Braille, large print, cassette tape) can be made available to members of the public upon request to the Board office.

Individuals unable to attend the hearing may submit written testimony directly to the State Board of Education on or before 4:00 p.m. on March 9, 2012.

Comments should be sent to:
State Board of Education
333 Market Street, 1st Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17126-0333
ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov

Persons with disabilities are invited to submit testimony in alternative formats such as Braille or taped testimony and via the telephone. Written and alternative formats of testimony will be afforded the same thoughtful consideration by the Committee as oral testimony. Written and alternative
formats of testimony may be as long as the writer wishes; 25 copies of written testimony are required.

Should registrants scheduled to provide testimony need to cancel their participation, the Board requests that they immediately notify the State Board office by calling (717) 787-3787 or via email at ra-stateboardofed@pa.gov.

Schedule of Hearings

Location                                                                                                                    
Montgomery County                                                          
Intermediate Unit
Rooms B-1 & B-2
1605 West Main St.
Norristown, PA 19403

Hearing Date
February 29, 2012

Time
10:00 a.m.

Deadline to Register
February 24, 2012

PaTTAN                                                                                                                                            
3190 William Pitt Way
Monongahela Room
Pittsburgh, PA 15238

Hearing Date
March 7, 2012

Time
10:00 a.m.

Deadline to Register
March 2, 2012

Pennsylvania Department of Education
1st Floor, Honors Suite
333 Market St. Harrisburg, PA 17126

Hearing Date
March 14, 2012

Time
9:00 a.m.

Deadline to Register
March 9, 2012

Click here to review the Chapter 4 Keystone Exams draft proposed revisions (Feb. 17, 2012).