State-Funded College Admissions Exam

Kentucky to Replace ACT with SAT for State-Funded College Admissions Exam

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Kentucky to Replace ACT with SAT for State-Funded College Admissions Exam

Kentucky’s Department of Education (KDE) has announced that starting in spring 2026, high school juniors in Kentucky will take the SAT instead of the ACT for the state-funded college admissions exam.

What’s Changing

  • The SAT will be administered as part of the SAT Junior State Administration, during the school day.

  • The exam will be in a digital format, which is shorter, adaptive, and designed to be more student-friendly, with faster score reporting.

  • The contract with the College Board is for four years, and Kentucky has locked in a cost of $30 per student over that contract.

Why the Change

  • The state estimates the switch could save up to $350,000 per year.

  • Along with fiscal savings, the new format offers supports for students: free preparation materials, tools like Khan Academy support, guides for explaining scores, and resources for parents and educators. These are intended to help reduce test anxiety and help students perform their best

 

Implementation & Acceptance

  • Kentucky’s public colleges — including the University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, Eastern Kentucky University, and Western Kentucky University — will continue to accept the SAT for admissions. Some accept SAT scores even when submission is optional.

  • The contract ending with ACT took effect June 30, 2025.

  • Schools will administer the SAT during a six-week window beginning around March 2, under the SAT School Day program. Schools select the specific dates.

 

Legal & Process Notes

  • There was a protest filed on July 14 over the contract awarded to the College Board. After review by Kentucky’s Finance and Administration Cabinet, the protest was found to lack merit and did not demonstrate prejudice.

  • The procurement process followed state law (the Kentucky Model Procurement Code). Multiple proposals were evaluated based on cost, technical quality, and other relevant criteria

 

What Students & Educators Need to Know

  • Students will have access to free SAT prep resources and support tools through the College Board and Khan Academy.

  • Digital format means some adaptation: parts of the test adjust depending on student performance. Kentucky Teacher+1

  • Educators will receive guidance to integrate SAT-related practice into regular instruction and address skill gaps.

 

Bottom Line

Starting in spring 2026, Kentucky will make a major shift: replacing the ACT with the SAT for its required, state-funded admissions exam. The goal is to provide a more modern, supportive, and cost-efficient testing environment for students. While not every detail is settled, the state is preparing schools and students for the transition.