Impacts from the Rise of Statewide School-Day ACT Testing

Investment Rating - The report does not explicitly provide an investment rating for the industry Core Insights - The rise of statewide school-day ACT testing programs has significantly increased participation rates, with an average increase of 28 percentage points in the first year of implementation across various states [4][10] - The ACT is now part of the statewide assessment program in twenty-three states, providing a more inclusive picture of college readiness by allowing more students from low-income and underserved populations to participate [2][5][6] - School-day testing has led to a more representative testing population, with 78 percent of the ACT 2024 graduating class participating in at least one school-day ACT administration [4] Summary by Sections Statewide School-Day ACT Programs - Since 2001, the implementation of statewide school-day ACT testing has allowed for a more inclusive assessment of student readiness, with significant increases in participation from diverse demographics [4][5][6] - The average participation rate in states with school-day testing rose by 28 percentage points in the first year, indicating a substantial shift in accessibility [10] Insights from a More Representative ACT Graduating Class - The expansion of school-day testing has revealed that 43 percent of students in the ACT graduating class of 2024 did not meet any College Readiness Benchmarks, highlighting the need for improved academic and workforce readiness [21][22] - Among students who reported no education or training plans after high school, 26 percent still enrolled in college, suggesting that school-day testing can influence students' postsecondary plans [25][26] - Students who completed a core curriculum scored an average of 2.6 points higher on the ACT compared to those who did not, emphasizing the importance of academic preparation [27][28] Conclusion - The implementation of statewide school-day ACT programs has transformed the understanding of postsecondary readiness, providing educators and policymakers with better data to drive interventions and resource allocation [29][30] - These programs represent a critical step toward ensuring that all students, regardless of background, have the opportunity to demonstrate their potential and succeed [31]