HB 1064: Education; standardized college admissions tests to include Classic Learning Test (CLT); revise provisions

Currently Georgia law recognizes the SAT and ACT in several places, such as school accountability metrics, test-prep elective courses, dual enrollment rules for high schoolers, and HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship eligibility. This bill amends multiple sections of Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated to add the Classic Learning Test (CLT), and in some cases the CLT10, as an equally valid option wherever the SAT or ACT is currently referenced. The changes touch school accountability contracts (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-84), the goals of the Quality Basic Education Act (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-132), test-prep elective courses (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-146), dual enrollment eligibility (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161.3), classroom expenditure waivers (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-171), home study student testing access (O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.9), and Zell Miller and HOPE scholarship eligibility (O.C.G.A. §§ 20-3-519 and 20-3-519.2). The Georgia Student Finance Commission would need to set CLT score equivalents to SAT and ACT scores. The bill would take effect July 1, 2026, applying to school years and academic years starting in 2026-2027.

• Adds the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as an accepted standardized test alongside the SAT and ACT in Georgia's school accountability contracts and Quality Basic Education Act goals.
• Allows schools to offer CLT preparatory courses for elective credit in the same way SAT and ACT prep courses currently qualify.
• Makes CLT scores usable to satisfy dual enrollment eligibility requirements for certain high school students.
• Adds CLT and CLT10 to the list of tests local school systems must make available to home study students, alongside the SAT, ACT, PSAT/NMSQT, PreACT, and ASVAB.
• Requires the Georgia Student Finance Commission to determine equivalent CLT scores for Zell Miller Scholar and HOPE scholarship eligibility using concordance tables.
• Sets the law to take effect July 1, 2026, applying starting with the 2026-2027 school and academic years.

Georgia public school students, especially high schoolers taking college admissions tests; local school boards and districts managing test-prep courses and accountability contracts; home study (homeschool) students seeking access to standardized tests; and college-bound students applying for HOPE or Zell Miller scholarships through the Georgia Student Finance Commission.

Students who take the Classic Learning Test instead of the SAT or ACT would be able to use those scores for school accountability measures, dual enrollment, and HOPE and Zell Miller scholarship eligibility, potentially widening testing options for college-bound Georgia students without changing scholarship award amounts or academic requirements otherwise.

• Section 1 adds CLT to the SAT and ACT performance measure used in school accountability contracts under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-84.
• Section 2 adds CLT to the test-score goal listed among the Quality Basic Education Act's primary goals under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-132.
• Section 3 expands the SAT preparatory elective course under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-146 to cover SAT, ACT, or CLT prep.
• Section 4 allows a qualifying CLT score to satisfy dual enrollment eligibility for tenth graders under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-161.3.
• Section 6 requires school systems offering the SAT, ACT, PreACT, or PSAT/NMSQT to home study students to also offer CLT and CLT10 under O.C.G.A. § 20-2-324.9.
• Section 7 directs the Georgia Student Finance Commission to set CLT score equivalents to SAT and ACT scores for Zell Miller Scholar eligibility under O.C.G.A. § 20-3-519.
• Section 8 adds CLT to the standardized tests accepted for certain HOPE scholarship eligibility pathways under O.C.G.A. § 20-3-519.2.
• Section 9 sets the effective date as July 1, 2026, applying to school and academic years starting in 2026-2027.

1. 2026-02-02House Second Readers (House)
2. 2026-01-29House First Readers (House)
3. 2026-01-28House Hopper (House)

• Carmen Rice (R, HD-139)Primary sponsor
• Matthew Gambill (R, HD-015)
• Charles Martin (R, HD-049)
• Carter Barrett (R, HD-024)
• Rick Townsend (R, HD-179)
• Lauren McDonald (R, HD-026)

• standardized testing
• college admissions
• HOPE scholarship
• Zell Miller scholarship
• K-12 education policy