Agenda Item
a. College Board SAT Exams (Not to exceed $375,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of SAT Exams from College Board for the SY24-25 test administration in an amount not to exceed $375,000.
The requested purchase is a testing expenditure that does not require bid per the District’s Purchasing Board Policy (DJE).
Why: This solution supports Goal Area 1: Student Academic Success with Equity and Access.
College entrance exams are designed to gauge a student's academic ability and likelihood of succeeding in college. It is important that all our students, particularly our juniors and seniors, have the opportunity to be administered the SAT exam during a regular school day.
Students who take the SAT increase their chances of getting into four-year colleges and reassure admissions committees that they have the necessary knowledge and skills to succeed in the academic environment of higher education.
Scholarships and financial aid opportunities are tied to college entrance exams; therefore, students who take the SAT are eligible for more than $220 million in scholarships each year.
Colleges and universities use the results of the college entrance exams to determine course placement. Students who perform well on these exams may be enrolled in more advanced classes, which would enable them to finish their degree requirements faster and save money on tuition and fees.
Since college acceptance does not always guarantee admission to specific colleges or schools within a university, students who take college entrance exams may be afforded the opportunity to enroll in more advanced coursework and specialized academic paths within the institution.
Over six million students in nearly 5,000 districts and 14,000 schools participate in SAT School Day, including the following DeKalb schools: Columbia High School, McNair High School, Redan High School, Southwest DeKalb High School, Stone Mountain High School, and Towers High School.
The ACT/SAT School Day Committee surveyed students and staff present from the Superintendent’s Student Advisory Committee, and they voted 78% to 22% in favor of the SAT. High school principals voted 79% to 21% in favor of the SAT School Day Administration.
Details: This proposed budget item is requesting funds not to exceed $375,000 to cover the costs of the SAT for both juniors and seniors in SY 2024-2025.
SAT School Day administration will be held in Fall 2024 for seniors and Spring 2025 for juniors for the 2024-2025 school year. Students will take the SAT digitally using their school-issued devices for testing, ensuring a smooth experience for students.
Administrators and teachers will be provided professional learning with a holistic understanding of the SAT test and test administration processes and procedures by the Assessment Administration department and through SAT training webinars.
The SAT executive will host a workshop for school leaders to improve DCSD educators’ foundational knowledge of the SAT, help educators identify curricular connections, analyze key performance data points, and implement strategies to provide students with the rigor and relevance to improve achievement.
The Assessment Administration Department, in collaboration with the Division of Information & Instructional Technology, will assist schools with the assessment implementation, including test planning, administrative set-up, required processes, and any operational and technological needs.
Financial impact: The financial impact is an amount, not to exceed, $375,000 for FY25.
The purchase amount will be paid using general funds budgeted to the Department of Assessment Administration, Charge code: 100.2210.553200.00011.7540.9990.8010.030.0000
Contact: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, 678.676.0300
Dr. Felicia G. Rhone, Director, Assessment Administration, Division of Accountability & Continuous Improvement, 678.676.0300
Effective: October 2024
Status: Approved by Office of Legal Affairs