Tennessee House Bill HB2403

Tennessee 2023-2024 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/30/24
• Refer: 2/1/24

Caption

AN ACT to amend Tennessee Code Annotated, Title 49, relative to the Classical Learning Test.

Impact

The impact of HB2403 on state laws involves modifying existing regulations related to educational assessments. By allowing the CLT as a valid substitute for ACT and SAT scores, the bill broadens the criteria for college admissions and seeks to accommodate different testing preferences among students. Public institutions of higher education in Tennessee will be mandated to accept CLT scores, which reinforces the significance of this testing option. The amendment also provides for the state board of education to create rules that will standardize these acceptance criteria, ensuring that they align with ACT and SAT scores.

Summary

House Bill 2403 proposes amendments to the Tennessee Code Annotated regarding standardized testing for high school students. Specifically, the bill introduces the Classical Learning Test (CLT) as an accepted form of assessment for college admissions alongside the traditional ACT and SAT. The inclusion of the CLT aims to diversify the options available to students assessing their readiness for postsecondary education. With this change, the score obtained from the CLT will be considered equally with other standardized tests during college admissions evaluations.

Contention

Notable points of contention surrounding HB2403 may arise from discussions on the effectiveness and recognition of the CLT in comparison to ACT and SAT scores. Critics might argue that the introduction of another test could create confusion or dilute the standards of college admissions, while supporters may view it as a necessary expansion of testing options that could alleviate pressure on students. There might also be concerns regarding how the implementation of this change will affect the overall college readiness assessments in Tennessee and whether it can satisfactorily replace the existing methods.