What PA graduation requirements should high school newsletters cover?

Pennsylvania requires students to earn a minimum of 21 credits for graduation (individual districts may require more) and to demonstrate proficiency on Keystone Exams in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology. Students have multiple pathways to meet the Keystone requirement: passing the exam, completing a locally approved Project-Based Assessment (PBA), or qualifying for a school counselor waiver. Your newsletter should explain the Keystone requirement clearly and note the PBA alternative for students who struggle with standardized testing.

How do Pennsylvania's Keystone Exams affect high school newsletters?

Keystone Exams in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology are graduation requirements. Students typically take these exams at the end of the relevant course. Your newsletter should address Keystone preparation before the testing window, explain the Project-Based Assessment alternative, and note retest opportunities. Many PA families do not know the PBA alternative exists, and for students who are strong academically but struggle with standardized tests, this alternative can prevent unnecessary graduation delays.

What Pennsylvania-specific college prep information should newsletters include?

Cover the Pennsylvania State Grant (PA State Grant program through PHEAA, requires FAFSA and PA State Grant Form), PHEAA's Cheyney University Keystone Award for eligible students, the Pennsylvania Promise program at select state system universities, FAFSA priority deadlines (PA State Grant has a May 1 deadline for continuing students), and the PASSHE (Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education) application process. PASSHE schools have rolling admissions, which is useful for families who miss other deadlines.

How do I address dual enrollment options in PA high school newsletters?

Pennsylvania has significant dual enrollment opportunities through community colleges and the PASSHE system. Many PA high schools have partnerships with local community colleges (HACC, Community College of Philadelphia, LCCC, etc.). Your newsletter should mention dual enrollment availability, course options, how credits transfer, and enrollment deadlines. For college-bound students, dual enrollment is one of the most practical ways to reduce first-year college costs.

What newsletter tool do PA high school teachers use?

Daystage works well for Pennsylvania high school teachers who need professional formatting and open rate tracking for Act 13 evaluation documentation. Several PA high school departments use it at the department level for standardized communication across multiple course sections. The bilingual support is useful for Philadelphia schools and other PA districts with significant Spanish-speaking populations.

Pennsylvania High School Newsletter Guide for

Pennsylvania high school families need specific information about Keystone Exams, graduation pathways, and Pennsylvania's state financial aid programs -- particularly the PA State Grant, which has its own deadlines and form requirements separate from FAFSA. A teacher who communicates these specifics clearly prevents families from being surprised by graduation requirements and misses on financial aid that could have been secured. Here is how to build a newsletter that does that job efficiently.

Keystone Exams: The Graduation Requirement Most PA Families Underestimate

Pennsylvania's Keystone Exams in Algebra I, Literature, and Biology are graduation requirements. Students who do not demonstrate proficiency have several options: retesting, completing a locally approved Project-Based Assessment (PBA), or qualifying for a school counselor waiver. Your newsletter should address Keystone Exams in the courses you teach before the testing window:

When the Keystone Exam is scheduled for your course
What the exam covers and how students are scored
What the PBA alternative is and who to contact about it
Retest schedule if students need to retake

Many PA high school families are not aware of the PBA option. A student who receives tutoring and three retakes rather than attempting a PBA may have been better served by the PBA from the start. Your newsletter can introduce this option so families can raise it with the counselor.

PA State Grant and PHEAA Financial Aid

Pennsylvania's State Grant program through PHEAA is one of the most important state financial aid programs in the country -- and one of the most commonly missed by families who assume FAFSA is the only step. Key PA State Grant information for senior newsletters:

PA State Grant requires FAFSA completion plus a separate PA State Grant Form (available at pheaa.org)
Priority deadline for new applicants is May 1; applying by January gives the best chance of full funding
Available for students attending eligible PA institutions (PASSHE, community colleges, private PA colleges)
Award amounts vary based on enrollment status and financial need; full-time enrollment typically yields higher awards

A Template Excerpt for PA Senior Newsletter

AP Literature: We are finishing the prose fiction analysis unit. The practice AP free-response essay is due October 28. AP exam registration closes December 1 through the school's AP coordinator. The exam is May 7.
PA State Grant Reminder: Pennsylvania's State Grant requires a FAFSA AND a separate PA State Grant Form on pheaa.org. FAFSA alone is not enough. The priority deadline for new applicants is May 1, but applying in November or December gives you the best chance of receiving the maximum award. If you are unsure whether your family qualifies, file both forms anyway -- there is no penalty for applying and not qualifying.

PASSHE and Community College Pathways

Pennsylvania's State System of Higher Education (PASSHE) includes 14 universities with rolling admissions and some of the most affordable tuition rates in the mid-Atlantic region. For families who are cost-sensitive, PASSHE schools are worth highlighting in your newsletter alongside the selective private colleges that often dominate the conversation. Pennsylvania's community college system (17 institutions) is also a strong first-step option, particularly with dual enrollment credit already banked.

Dual Enrollment Opportunities

PA high schools with community college partnerships can offer dual enrollment credits that count toward both high school graduation and college degree requirements. Your newsletter should mention dual enrollment options each fall with enrollment deadlines. For Philadelphia students, the Community College of Philadelphia's College-in-High-School program is a particularly accessible option. For suburban PA students, HACC, LCCC, DCCC, and other regional community colleges have active dual enrollment partnerships.

Sustainable Communication for PA High School Teachers

Pennsylvania high school teachers handle Keystone Exam preparation, AP testing, dual enrollment coordination, and standard classroom instruction simultaneously in the spring. A newsletter that is pre-scheduled using Daystage during winter planning periods ensures communication goes out reliably without competing with spring assessment demands. Build your template in September, draft spring newsletters in January, and schedule sends in advance. Your families will notice the consistency, and your evaluation portfolio will reflect it.

Pennsylvania High School Newsletter Guide for Teachers