The Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) has awarded a new contract to the College Board to administer the SAT as the state-funded college admissions exam starting in the spring of 2026. This four-year contract offers a cost-effective solution, maintaining a $30 per student price and potentially saving the state up to $350,000 annually. After an opposition was raised against the contract due to procurement concerns, the Finance and Administration Cabinet conducted a comprehensive review, ultimately deciding that the protest held no merit, allowing the agreement to move forward.
As part of the transition from the ACT, which had been previously used, to the SAT, Kentucky’s high school juniors will take the exam during school hours, aligning with the state’s college admissions testing requirements. The SAT is widely recognized by institutions throughout the U.S., including major public universities in Kentucky, such as the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky University.
Education Commissioner Robbie Fletcher highlighted the array of benefits this transition offers students, including access to tools such as free, personalized practice with Khan Academy, and a new, student-friendly digital format designed for quicker score reporting. Resources available to students and families aim to demystify the SAT process and alleviate test-related anxiety, thereby enhancing college preparedness.
The partnership with The College Board also extends educational support to educators, allowing them to utilize Khan Academy resources and other teaching aids aligned with state standards to help students effectively prepare for the test. This partnership is expected to provide educators with detailed insights into student performance, enabling better-informed instructional strategies.
The entire procurement process adhered to the Kentucky Model Procurement Code, ensuring a fair and competitive selection of the vendor based on technical quality and cost-efficiency. The SAT School Day program, which features a 2-hour, 14-minute multistage adaptive digital assessment, will be administered within a flexible six-week testing window, giving schools ample time to schedule their test dates.
This transition to the SAT not only facilitates a high-quality educational assessment but also offers comprehensive support resources, ultimately expanding opportunities for Kentucky students in their pursuit of higher education and future careers.