The debate over the Keystone Exams and how they will be implemented is on! Districts basically have two options to choose from regarding the implementation of the Keystone Exams. Option 1: Use the Keystone Exam as the final exam (counting for at least 33.3% of the course grade) in the ten courses that will eventually have corresponding state-created Keystone Exams. Option 2: Use the Keystone Exams as stand-alone graduation exams that have no bearing on course grades but must be passed (at least six of them) independently in order to graduate. Using the Keystone Exams as course final exams would allow higher than average marking period grades to increase a low Keystone Exam scores and it would reduce the amount of total testing students experience. Unfortunately with the mandate that the Keystone Exam count for at least 33.3% of the course grades, some students would fail the entire course and not receive academic credit for the course if they received a very low Keystone Exam score. In this situation, not only would a student have to retake the Keystone Exam, but they would also have to retake the course to receive academic credit. Implementing the Keystones as a stand-alone graduation requirement requires students to score in the proficient or advanced range on the exams. By choosing this option, students’ scores on these exams could not be countered or impacted by good course grades.