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THECB staff review finds ACT, SAT and CLT eligible for consideration; vendors press predictive-validity case
Summary
An independent review commissioned by THECB found ACT, SAT (College Board) and CLT met readiness benchmarks for consideration in state admissions policy; representatives from each vendor addressed the board July 22, emphasizing predictive validity and Texas-specific evidence.
THECB staff presented an independent review of college entrance examinations at the board's July 22 meeting and said they intend to propose amendments to the agency's uniform admissions policy by January 2027.
Associate Commissioner Daniel Perez summarized the Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute's independent evaluation of three exam vendors: ACT, College Board (SAT), and the Classic Learning Test (CLT). "All three vendors met the rubric's general readiness benchmark," Perez said, and staff said they would bring proposed admissions-rule changes to the board no later than January 2027 for potential application to 2028 admissions.
Public testimony highlighted differences in the evidence base. Jeremy Tate, founder and CEO of CLT, said the CLT meets technical standards and praised the PPRI validation for the exam's psychometrics. "The PPRI validation proves that we can reclaim intellectual depth without sacrificing psychometric validity and reliability," Tate said.
Maria Markham, senior director for executive relations at ACT, emphasized predictive validity as the most consequential measure: "Without that evidence, a score is just a number. With it, a score becomes a meaningful tool for informed decisions." College Board senior vice president Anna Menezes similarly urged the board to prioritize evidence of postsecondary predictive validity and submitted Texas-specific data showing SAT scores predict college success across broad student populations.
Board members asked vendors about data limitations and the comparative predictive validity figures in the PPRI report. Staff said they will incorporate the study's findings and any follow-up materials into proposed rule language and that rules, if adopted, would apply beginning with 2028 admissions.
