College Equity and Access: Arizona

A.R.S.15-741.02 is a legislation passed by the Arizona State Board of Education that requires local education agencies to adopt a Menu of Assessments for high school students. This legislation, effective beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, allows local education agencies to select an assessment from the Menu, such as the SAT^®, to administer in addition to the statewide assessment, the ACT^®.

The main purpose of this legislation is to provide more options for students and families when it comes to college readiness assessments. The SAT^® and ACT^® have long been used as a standard for college admissions, and by offering both options, students will have more opportunities to showcase their skills and abilities. Additionally, this change will also give schools more flexibility in terms of when and how they administer these assessments.

This legislation also aims to promote equity and access for all students, regardless of their socio-economic background, by providing more opportunities for students to take college readiness assessments. Historically, students from low-income families or under-resourced communities have had limited access to these assessments, and this legislation is an effort to bridge that gap.

Students from low-income families or under-resourced communities may have limited access to the SAT^® or ACT^® due to:

• Lack of awareness or information about the exams among students and families in low-income or under-resourced communities
• Limited resources or funding for test preparation and materials
• Inadequate or limited access to technology and internet connectivity, which can be necessary for online registration and test taking
• Socioeconomic barriers such as lack of transportation to testing centers or difficulty in taking time off from work or school
• Limited access to test preparation resources such as books, classes, or tutors
• Limited support or resources for students with disabilities or special needs
• Limited English proficiency, which can make taking the exams more challenging for English language learners
• Limited access to college counseling and support services that can help students navigate the college application and testing process.

Furthermore, this legislation also aligns with the state's goal of increasing the number of students who go on to attend college and obtain higher education degrees. By providing students with more opportunities to demonstrate their readiness for college, it is expected that more students will be motivated to pursue higher education.

Arizona goals for college equity and access:

• Providing resources and support to help low-income and under-resourced students access and prepare for college entrance exams such as the SAT^® and ACT^®
• Increasing awareness and access to financial aid and scholarship opportunities
• Developing and implementing programs that provide academic and personal support to students in order to increase their chances of success in college
• Improving the quality of K-12 education, particularly in under-resourced communities, to better prepare students for college
• Increasing the number of college-ready students by providing more opportunities for students to take college-level coursework while still in high school
• Encouraging and supporting students from under-resourced communities to pursue higher education by providing information and resources about the benefits of higher education and the opportunities available to them
• Increasing the number of students from under-resourced communities who go on to graduate from college by providing support and resources to help them complete their degrees.

Overall, A.R.S.15-741.02 is a significant step forward for Arizona's education system. It provides students with more opportunities to demonstrate their readiness for college, promotes equity and access, and aligns with the state's goal of increasing college attendance and completion. It is important to note that this legislation does not change the requirement of taking the state assessment (ACT^®) but gives students an additional option to take a college readiness assessment.