How to Prepare for the New Digital PSSA and Keystone Exams

In April 2024, Pennsylvania officially announced that by Spring 2026, all state-mandated standardized tests—including the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) and Keystone Exams—will be administered online. While roughly 32% of districts have already started this transition, the upcoming mandate requires full statewide adoption, ushering in a new era of digital testing for public schools across the Commonwealth.

For district leaders, administrators, and educators, this transition represents more than just a logistical change. It’s a pedagogical and cultural shift, one that brings both opportunity and complexity. Here’s what’s changing, what it means for your students, and how Progress Learning can help your school be fully prepared.

Why the Change, and Why Now?

Pennsylvania’s decision follows a national trend. Like the SAT®, which is now fully digital, and New York’s own move toward computer-based testing, Pennsylvania is now modernizing its assessments to better reflect how students learn today. Governor Josh Shapiro and the Pennsylvania Department of Education cited several key motivations:

• Reduce administrative burden on teachers
• Save time and cost associated with paper testing
• Create tests that mirror digital learning environments already common in classrooms
• Improve speed of results and data turnaround for actionable insight
  

The goal isn’t simply modernization, it’s alignment. Today’s classrooms are powered by Chromebooks, tablets, and cloud-based platforms. The new digital PSSA and Keystone exams are designed to reflect that reality.

What’s Actually Changing?

Full Online Administration

All PSSA and Keystone exams will be taken online by Spring 2026. Paper tests will only be available for students requiring accommodations.

More Than Multiple Choice

Digital testing brings new item types known as Technology-Enhanced Items (TEIs):

• Drag-and-drop interactions
• Graph and chart tools
• Sorting and classification questions
• Numeric and text entry (i.e., open response) questions
  

These aren’t exclusive to ELA. Math, Science, and even Algebra and Biology exams will include open-response formats, requiring students to input numbers, show reasoning, or type responses—a skill set many students aren’t regularly practicing without specific preparation.

Affected Grades and Subjects

• PSSA: Grades 3–8 in ELA, Math, and Science
• Keystone: High school-level Algebra I, Biology, and Literature
  

Opportunities and Challenges

Benefits of the New Format:

• Faster score turnaround means quicker feedback for educators
• More comprehensive assessments that reflect real-world thinking
• Better alignment with how students already learn and complete work digitally
• Reduced paperwork and manual processing for schools and districts
  

Challenges to Consider:

• Tech infrastructure gaps, especially in rural districts, remain a concern
• Digital test-taking anxiety may affect performance, especially for younger students or those with limited keyboarding or tech skills
• Transition years often bring initial score fluctuations as students and staff adjust to new expectations and formats

What Schools Should Be Doing Now

The 2026 deadline may seem far off, but successful transitions begin with early action. Schools that prepare now will be better positioned to:

• Support student familiarity with digital tools and TEI formats
• Identify and fill skill gaps in typing, navigation, and test-taking stamina
• Ensure tech equity and digital readiness across all classrooms
• Align instruction and assessments with what students will actually see on test day

How Progress Learning Supports Pennsylvania’s Transition

Progress Learning is already helping schools across the country, and in Pennsylvania, navigate transitions to digital testing with success. Here’s how we can support your team:

PSSA & Keystone-Aligned Practice

We provide a vast library of standards-based items aligned to Pennsylvania Core Standards, not just general “standards-aligned” content. This includes:

• ELA, Math, and Science content for Grades 3–8
• Keystone-aligned practice for Algebra I, Biology, and Literature
  

Real TEIs for Real Practice

Students can practice with:

• Drag-and-drop
• Graphing and sorting
• Open responses across all tested subjects, not just ELA
  

Many platforms only offer multiple choice or limit TEIs to English. Our TEI’s are available in Math and Science, too—a crucial differentiator for PSSA and Keystone preparation.

Check out an open response question from the Progress Learning item bank for 3rd Grade PSSA Math.

Progress Monitoring & Instant Remediation

• Get real-time data on student performance
• Instantly assign targeted remediation based on missed skills
• Use our custom or prebuilt assessments to mirror the rigor and format of state tests
  

Proven Impact

Schools using Progress Learning have shown significant growth, even in digital test environments. For example:

• Charles Drew Elementary saw science proficiency grow from 33% to 82%
• Forney ISD students using Progress Learning outperformed peers on their digital assessments, including NWEA MAP.

The shift to digital testing in Pennsylvania is inevitable but it doesn’t have to be disruptive. With the right tools and supports in place, your district can turn this challenge into a growth opportunity for students and staff.

Want to see sample items specifically designed for the PSSA and Keystone exams, including new TEI’s and open response questions? Fill out the form below to talk to our Pennsylvania specialist.