{"id":18695,"date":"2025-10-03T13:56:47","date_gmt":"2025-10-03T17:56:47","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/?p=18695"},"modified":"2025-10-03T13:56:47","modified_gmt":"2025-10-03T17:56:47","slug":"kentucky-act-to-sat-switch","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/kentucky-act-to-sat-switch\/","title":{"rendered":"Kentucky Switching from ACT\u00ae to SAT\u00ae: Preparing Districts, Schools, Teachers, and Students"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">For years, <a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/kentucky\/high-school\/\">Kentucky high school<\/a> juniors took the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/our-products\/act-prep\/\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">ACT\u00ae<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> as part of the state\u2019s accountability system and college admissions preparation. That\u2019s about to change.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Beginning <\/span>spring 2026<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.education.ky.gov\/Pages\/default.aspx\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kentucky Department of Education (KDE)<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will transition to the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/our-products\/sat-prep\/\">SAT\u00ae<\/a> as the state-funded college admissions exam<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. This change follows the awarding of a four-year contract to the <\/span>College Board<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, replacing ACT\u00ae as the official provider. For educators, leaders, and families, this shift raises important questions: <\/span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Why the change? How will it impact curriculum and test prep? What should schools do to prepare students, particularly in a fully digital testing environment?<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Let\u2019s walk through what you need to know and how Progress Learning can support your transition.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>Why Did Kentucky Switch from ACT\u00ae to SAT\u00ae?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Kentucky had a longstanding relationship with ACT\u00ae, but in a competitive bid process, the SAT\u00ae emerged as a more cost-effective, flexible, and student-friendly option:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Cost Savings: The contract with the College Board is valued at $30 per student, potentially saving Kentucky up to $350,000 annually.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Digital-First Design: The SAT\u00ae is already digital and adaptive\u2014an important step forward as ACT\u00ae continues its transition to digital formats.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Student-Centric Features: The SAT\u00ae now offers a shorter test, faster score reporting, and seamless integration with Khan Academy\u2019s free SAT\u00ae prep, giving students greater access to practice tools.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">College Acceptance: Major Kentucky institutions, including University of Kentucky, University of Louisville, EKU, and Western Kentucky University already accept SAT\u00ae scores for admissions.<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Although a protest was filed against the contract award, it was formally denied after review, confirming the state\u2019s move toward implementation in 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>When Does This Change Take Effect?<\/b><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Spring 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: The SAT\u00ae officially replaces the ACT\u00ae as Kentucky\u2019s state-funded college entrance exam.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Class of 2027<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: This year\u2019s <\/span>10th graders<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> will be the first to take the SAT\u00ae as part of the required spring assessment cycle.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Current 11th and 12th Graders<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: These students remain unaffected and will complete their ACT\u00ae pathway as planned.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Testing will be delivered digitally through the <\/span><b>SAT\u00ae School Day program<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, allowing districts to choose testing dates during a six-week window starting <\/span><b>March 2, 2026<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><b>SAT\u00ae vs. ACT\u00ae: What\u2019s the Difference?<\/b><\/h2>\n<table style=\"width: 100%; max-width: 1400px; margin: 0 auto; border-collapse: collapse; background-color: white; box-shadow: 0 4px 8px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2); border: 2px solid black;\">\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th style=\"background-color: #028CB7; color: white; padding: 20px; text-align: left; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; border: 2px solid black;\">Category<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #028CB7; color: white; padding: 20px; text-align: left; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; border: 2px solid black;\">SAT\u00ae (2026 format)<\/th>\n<th style=\"background-color: #028CB7; color: white; padding: 20px; text-align: left; font-size: 24px; font-weight: bold; border: 2px solid black;\">ACT\u00ae<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\">Format<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">Digital and adaptive<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">Paper or digital (in transition)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\">Length<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">~2 hours, 14 minutes<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">~3 hours, 35 minutes (with writing)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\">Sections<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">Reading &#038; Writing, Math<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">English, Math, Reading, Science (optional writing)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\">Scoring<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">400\u20131600<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">1\u201336 per section (composite average)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 18px; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: top;\">Test Prep Tools<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">Free practice on Khan Academy<\/td>\n<td style=\"padding: 20px; border: 2px solid black; font-size: 16px; vertical-align: top;\">ACT\u00ae Academy (limited access)<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><\/br><\/p>\n<h2><b>What This Means for Districts, Schools, and Educators<\/b><\/h2>\n<h3><b>District and School Leaders:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Evaluate current assessment strategies and curriculum maps for alignment to SAT\u00ae content and format.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Prioritize professional development for high school ELA and math teachers to build confidence with digital assessment tools and question styles.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Communicate with families early to prepare them for the shift.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Teachers:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Adjust classroom practices to emphasize evidence-based reading, data interpretation, and math reasoning without a calculator.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Integrate SAT\u00ae-style questions into exit tickets, quizzes, and formative assessments.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Encourage consistent practice and digital test exposure to reduce anxiety.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3><b>Students:<\/b><\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Need exposure to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/news-blog\/sample-curriculum-for-digital-sat\/\">digital testing environments<\/a>, not just academic content.<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Will benefit from consistent SAT\u00ae-aligned prep beginning this fall<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, especially current sophomores preparing for spring 2026.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Will take advantage of personalized practice via Khan Academy and school-supported platforms like Progress Learning.<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2><b>How Progress Learning Helps Kentucky Schools Transition to the SAT\u00ae<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress Learning provides Kentucky schools with a powerful toolkit to navigate this shift:<\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Digital-first test prep<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Our platform is fully digital, helping students build confidence and fluency with technology-enhanced items, just like the new digital SAT\u00ae.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Custom and pre-built SAT\u00ae-style assessments<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Districts can mirror SAT\u00ae rigor and pacing with our 200,000+ item bank.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Formative and summative tools<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Whether it\u2019s a bell ringer, unit quiz, or benchmark, Progress Learning helps teachers track mastery in real time.<\/span><\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\"><b>Aligned content for future PSAT\u00ae cohorts<\/b><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: Prepare not just your juniors but also your 9th and 10th graders for the PSAT\u00ae and full SAT\u00ae experience.<\/span><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"><br \/>\n<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Kentucky\u2019s switch to the SAT\u00ae isn\u2019t just a change in test, it\u2019s a shift in mindset. Schools that start planning now will ensure that students are equipped not just to take the SAT\u00ae, but to succeed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><b>Let\u2019s Get Ready Together.<\/b><\/h3>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Progress Learning is built to meet this moment. With a platform already aligned to <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/schools-districts\/kentucky\/high-school\/\">Kentucky Academic Standards<\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, digital tools tailored for state assessments, and personalized learning paths, we\u2019re ready to support your school or district through every step of this transition.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Need to prepare your students for the digital SAT\u00ae? Get in touch with our SAT\u00ae experts today.<\/p>\n<script charset=\"utf-8\" type=\"text\/javascript\" src=\"\/\/js.hsforms.net\/forms\/embed\/v2.js\"><\/script>\r\n<script>\r\n  hbspt.forms.create({\r\n    region: \"na1\",\r\n    portalId: \"23272034\",\r\n    formId: \"3bd16ddb-4120-40f2-ae04-334b789b41ff\"\r\n  });\r\n<\/script>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>For years, Kentucky high school juniors took the ACT\u00ae as part of the state\u2019s accountability system and college admissions preparation. That\u2019s about to change. Beginning spring 2026, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will transition to the SAT\u00ae as the state-funded college admissions exam. This change follows the awarding of a four-year contract to the [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":18699,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"\ud83d\udce3 Big changes coming to KY schools! Starting Spring 2026, juniors will take the SAT instead of the ACT. What does this mean for students & educators\u2014and how can you prepare now? Read our full breakdown. #KentuckyEd #SATprep #ProgressLearning","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[315,308,309],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-18695","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-kentucky","category-act","category-sat"],"acf":[],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/10\/Blog-ACT\u00ae-to-SAT\u00ae-Switch.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18695","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18695"}],"version-history":[{"count":14,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18695\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18710,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18695\/revisions\/18710"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18699"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18695"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18695"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/progresslearning.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18695"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}