House Approves Bill Removing ACT, SAT Requirements

COLUMBUS – State Representative Don Jones (R-Freeport) today announced the Ohio House of Representatives has approved House Bill 82, legislation that removes the requirement for every Ohio high school junior take the ACT or SAT test in order to graduate.

Current state law requires all high school students to take a nationally standardized college admission assessment. H.B. 82 allows parents or guardians of a high school student to opt the student out of taking a nationally standardized college admissions assessment, beginning with students who enter the 9th grade for the first time in the school year that follows the bill’s effective date.

According to the Legislative Service Commission, paying for and administering ACT tests for all high school students costs the State of Ohio nearly $5 million.

Jones noted that ACT testing scores are a part of the equation for formulating a school districts’ “career readiness” score within the state school report cards, which can have an overall impact of economic and workforce development issues for communities. 

“Not every student plans to take a traditional path after college,” said Jones. “A student’s lack of interest in the exam, simply because they have a different career and education pathway, is reflected on scores and providing a false narrative and score on the state school report cards.” 

The measure is supported by the Ohio Education Association and Ohio School Counselor Association.

H.B. 82 passed with a vote of 93-0. The bill now heads to the Senate for consideration.