Agenda Item
a. College Board SAT School Day Exams (Not to exceed $225,000)
Summary: Presented by: Dr. Candace Alexander, Chief of Accountability and Research, Division of Accountability & Research
Request: It is requested that the Board of Education approve the purchase of SAT Exams from College Board for the SY25-26 test administration in an amount not to exceed $225,000.
The requested purchase is a testing expenditure that does not require bid per the District’s Purchasing Board Policy (DJE).
Why: 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.
Details: This proposed budget item is requesting funds not to exceed $225,000.00 to cover the costs of the SAT for juniors in SY 2025-2026.
SAT School Day administration is scheduled for March 11, 2026, for juniors with make-up days on March 12-13, 2026. The assessment is a participation requirement and not a graduation requirement. Students will take the SAT digitally using their school-issued devices for testing, ensuring a smooth experience for students.
Students who qualify for an SAT fee waiver may participate in an SAT School Day administration and still take the SAT two additional times during national administrations on weekends using their fee waiver. SAT fee waivers are for weekend testing only.
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 and 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, $225,000 for FY26.
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 of Accountability & Research, Division of Accountability & Research, 678.676.0733,
Dr. Felicia G. Rhone, Director of Assessment Administration, Division of Accountability & Research, 678.676.0231
Effective: March 2026
Status: Approved by the Office of Legal Affairs
DekaLb County SchooL Day Administration
SAT SchooL Day Administration - Juniors
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Total Juniors* SATSD Total
School Name Grade Percentage
2025 Tested
Arabia Mountain High School 11 278 274 99%
Cedar Grove High School 11 231 176 76%
Chamblee High School 11 411 369 90%
Clarkston High School 11 267 207 78%
Columbia High School 11 226 197 87%
Cross Keys High School 11 376 276 73%
DeKalb Alternative School 11 13 5 38%
DeKalb Early College Academy 11 69 57 83%
DeKalb School of the Arts 11 64 64 100%
Druid Hills Higll SCll00l 11 337 238 71%
Dunwoody High School 11 457 352 77%
Elizabeth Andrews High School 11 153 51 33%
Lakeside High School 11 500 433 87%
Lithonia High School 11 312 257 82%
Martin Luther King Jr High Sch 11 351 307 87%
McNair High School 11 144 128 89%
Miller Grove High School 11 258 248 96%
Redan Higll School 11 275 255 93%
Southwest DeKalb High School 11 281 228 81%
Stephenson High School 11 321 295 92%
Stone Mountain High School 11 262 227 87%
Tapestry Public Charter School 11 36 26 72%
Towers High School 11 173 142 82%
Tucker High School 11 347 321 93%
TOTAL 6142 5133 83%
*=Ooes not include students on ACS (GAA Students)