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

House Bill 1064

By: Representatives Rice of the 139th, Gambill of the 15th, Martin of the 49th, Barrett of the 24th, Townsend of the 179th, and others

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

To amend Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, so as to revise provisions relating to standardized college admissions tests, to include the Classic Learning Test (CLT) among tests such as the SAT and ACT; to provide for related matters; to provide for an effective date and applicability; to repeal conflicting laws; and for other purposes.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF GEORGIA:

SECTION 1.

Title 20 of the Official Code of Georgia Annotated, relating to education, is amended by revising subsection (a) of Code Section 20-2-84, relating to accountability, flexibility, and consequences of components of contract, as follows:

"(a) The accountability component of the contract provided in Code Section 20-2-83 shall include at least one of the student achievement measures in paragraphs (1) through (4) of this subsection, including both total scores and any needed targeted subgroups:

(1) High school graduation rates;

(2) SAT, or ACT, or CLT performance;

(3) State standardized test data, which may include end-of-grade assessments, end-of-course assessments, or a combination thereof;

(4) Advanced placement or international baccalaureate participation and performance; and

(5) Any other accountability measures included pursuant to Part 3 of Article 2 of Chapter 14 of this title."

SECTION 2.

Said title is further amended in Code Section 20-2-132, relating to primary goals of the "Quality Basic Education Act," by revising paragraph (5) as follows: "(5) A significant increase in the test scores of Georgia students who take the Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT) or the ACT Assessment (ACT) SAT, ACT, or CLT;"

SECTION 3.

Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-146, relating to Scholastic Assessment Test preparatory course and acceptance as elective credit, as follows:

"20-2-146.

(a) All schools with grade ten or above may make available to eligible students a Scholastic Assessment Test preparatory course for the SAT, ACT, or CLT. Such course of study shall be designed to offer an opportunity for review and practice to students preparing to take the Scholastic Assessment Test such tests. The course may be offered periodically in the manner prescribed by the local board.

(b) Each local board of education shall be authorized to supplement and develop the exact approach of content areas of such Scholastic Assessment Test preparatory course with such specific curriculum standards as it may deem appropriate.

(c) For the purposes of earning Carnegie unit curriculum credits at the high school level, completion of the Scholastic Assessment Test such preparatory course may be accepted by the State Board of Education for one-half unit of elective credit."

SECTION 4.

Said title is further amended by revising paragraph (9) of subsection (b) of Code Section

20-2-161.3, the "Dual Enrollment Act," as follows:

"(9) 'Eligible high school student' means a student who is:

(A) Entering or enrolled in eleventh or twelfth grade at an eligible high school taking any eligible dual credit course at any eligible postsecondary institution; or

(B) Entering or enrolled in tenth grade at an eligible high school when such student:

(i) Is enrolled in an eligible CTAE course at an institution within the Technical College System of Georgia;

(ii) Has obtained prior to the beginning of the term of dual enrollment coursework an SAT, or ACT, or CLT test score that would meet the assessment requirements of a Zell Miller Scholar pursuant to division (27)(A)(i) of Code Section 20-3-519 and is taking eligible core courses at any eligible postsecondary institution; or

(iii) Was enrolled as a ninth grader in one or more dual credit courses at an eligible postsecondary institution for which payment was made under this part on or before June 30, 2020."

SECTION 5.

Said title is further amended by revising paragraph (3) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-2-171, relating to minimum direct classroom expenditures, waivers, sanctions for noncompliance, submission of budget and expenditure information, and rules and regulations, as follows:

"(3) A local school system that has direct classroom expenditures that are less than 65 percent of its total operating expenditures and that is unable to meet the expenditure requirements in paragraph (2) of this subsection may apply to the State Board of Education for a one-year renewable achievement waiver. The waiver request must include evidence that the local school system is exceeding the state averages in academic categories designated by the board, which may include, but not be limited to, end-of-grade assessments, end-of-course assessments, and the SAT, ACT, or CLT, a plan for obtaining compliance with this Code section, and any other information required at the discretion of the board; and"

SECTION 6.

Said title is further amended by revising Code Section 20-2-324.9, relating to availability of standardized testing to home study students, as follows:

"20-2-324.9

(a) As used in this Code section, the term 'home study student' means a student in grades six through 12 who is in a home study program that meets the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690.

(b) Each local school system that offers the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT, CLT, CLT10, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or an advanced placement exam to students enrolled in such local school system shall:

(1) Make each such test or exam available to any home study student who resides in the local school system; and

(2) Post on its public website notice of the date that each such test or exam will be administered. Such notice shall include registration dates and procedures and shall state that such test or exam is available for home study students who reside in the local school system.

(c) No local school system that offers the PSAT/NMSQT, SAT, PreACT, ACT, CLT, CLT10, or Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery or an advanced placement exam to students enrolled in such local school system shall require home study students to pay a fee not required of students enrolled in such local school system or impose any requirement that conflicts with or is in addition to the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690."

SECTION 7.

Said title is further amended by revising paragraph (27) of Code Section 20-3-519, relating to definitions relative to HOPE Scholarships and Grants, as follows: "(27) 'Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar' means a student who has met the applicable eligibility requirements to receive a HOPE scholarship in accordance with Code Section

20-3-519.2 and:

(A) As an incoming freshman:

(i) Having graduated from an eligible high school with a grade point average of at least 3.7 calculated in accordance with Code Section 20-2-157 and having received a score of at least 1,200 on the combined critical reading and math portions on a single administration of the SAT administered prior to March 1, 2016, or on the total score on a single administration of the SAT administered on or after March 1, 2016, or an equivalent ACT composite scale score, or an equivalent CLT score which shall be determined by the Georgia Student Finance Commission by January 1 of each year using nationally recognized standards, such as the College Board and ACT or CLT concordance tables;

(ii) Having graduated from an eligible high school as a valedictorian or salutatorian;

(iii) Having completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 or having graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, having received a score in the ninety-third percentile or higher on the ACT, on the combined critical reading and math portions on a single administration of the SAT administered prior to March 1, 2016, or on the total score on a single administration of the SAT administered on or after March 1, 2016, or on the CLT; or

(iv) Having completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 or having graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, having received a score of at least 1,200 on the combined critical reading and math portions on a single administration of the SAT administered prior to March 1, 2016, or on the total score on a single administration of the SAT administered on or after March 1, 2016, or an ACT composite scale score of at least 26, or a CLT overall score of at least 86, and earning a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 at an eligible postsecondary institution at the end of the quarter or semester in which the student has attempted 45 quarter hours or 30 semester hours, provided that such student shall be eligible to receive a retroactive scholarship for such student's freshman year to be paid at the end of the freshman year; and

(B) As a sophomore, junior, senior, or first professional student who met the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph, having a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.3 at the checkpoints set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.2. Notwithstanding the foregoing, a student who entered an eligible postsecondary institution as a freshman between July 1, 2007, and June 30, 2011, and met the requirements of subparagraph (A) of this paragraph may become a Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar as a sophomore, junior, senior, or first professional student.

A student who loses eligibility to be a Zell Miller Scholarship Scholar for any reason may regain eligibility one time if the student requalifies at one of the checkpoints set forth in paragraph (1) of subsection (b) of Code Section 20-3-519.2."

SECTION 8.

Said title is further amended by revising subparagraph (a)(1)(C) of 20-3-519.2, relating to academic and enrollment requirements for eligibility for a HOPE scholarship, duration of scholarship, and award amount, as follows:

"(C) In the case of an otherwise qualified student who:

(i) Did not graduate from high school or complete a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 but received the state approved high school equivalency (HSE) diploma awarded by the Department of Technical and Adult Education, now known as the Technical College System of Georgia, after June 30, 1993;

(ii) Completed a home study program meeting the requirements of subsection (c) of Code Section 20-2-690 in lieu of graduating from an eligible high school; or

(iii) Graduated from a high school which is not an eligible high school, earning a score in the seventy-fifth percentile or higher nationally on a standardized college admission test, such as the SAT, or ACT, or CLT; and"

SECTION 9.

This Act shall become effective on July 1, 2026, and shall apply to all school years beginning with the 2026-2027 school year and to all academic years beginning with the 2026-2027 academic year.

SECTION 10.

All laws and parts of laws in conflict with this Act are repealed.