House Approves Bill Removing ACT, SAT Requirements

COLUMBUS – State Rep. Jon Cross (R-Kenton) 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.

“House Bill 82 will ease tax burdens by giving local control to school districts to determine a more accurate budget when paying for the administering of the ACT test,” said Cross. “The priorities of individual schools may vary, and many institutions of higher education no longer require this assessment. Ohio taxpayers shouldn’t be forced to pay for unnecessary testing for all students.”

ACT testing scores are a part of the equation for formulating a school districts’ “career readiness” score within the state school report card. Students’ lack of interest in the exam could negatively impact their score, which will directly impact economic and workforce development issues for communities due to the school report card scoring. 

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.