In Florida’s latest move to change its education system, the state’s public university governing body is expected to vote on whether college applicants can use a different test instead of the SAT and ACT.
The test in question is called the Classic Learning Test, or CLT, which is widely used by Christian schools and conservative political groups. It was first introduced in December 2015 and is currently accepted by over 250 colleges and universities in the United States.
If approved, Florida would be the first state university system to accept the CLT, as reported by the New York Times.
The CLT is a two-hour exam with three sections, assessing verbal reasoning, grammar and writing, as well as quantitative reasoning. Students can get their scores on the same day they take the test, unlike the SAT and ACT, which take longer.
The creators of the CLT say it draws on the wisdom of thinkers throughout history, from 400 B.C. to the present day, in contrast to the SAT and ACT, which use more recent texts, according to a 2018 technical report.
The Board of Governors meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. on Friday. This board consists of 17 members, with 14 of them appointed by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, who is a Republican.
This upcoming vote on the CLT is the latest development in an ongoing disagreement between DeSantis and the College Board, which oversees the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) classes.
Earlier this year, the Florida Department of Education blocked a new AP course on African-American studies for high school students, claiming it violated state law and lacked educational value. The College Board made adjustments to the course in response to the criticism.
The CLT has already started gaining traction in Florida’s higher education system. New College of Florida, which now has a Board of Trustees dominated by DeSantis-appointed conservatives, was the first public university to indicate its acceptance of the CLT for college admissions, pending board approval.
New College has become a focal point of attention for the 2024 Republican presidential candidate as he seeks to address what he considers “woke” indoctrination in Florida’s education system.
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