SB183

Senate Bill 183 amends the Universal ACT Assessment Program Act in Arkansas to expand the types of college readiness assessments available to students in public schools and open-enrollment public charter schools. The bill broadens the definition of 'assessment' beyond the ACT to include the SAT, the Classic Learning Test (CLT), and various preliminary exams like the PSAT and PreACT. Starting in the 2025-2026 school year, schools are required to provide students the opportunity to take specified assessments in grades nine through twelve at no cost to the student, using school district funding. The bill also mandates that schools offer students the opportunity to take the Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery upon request. Additionally, the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education and the Division of Higher Education are directed to develop administrative rules and provide annual reports on program participation and student outcomes.