ACT college-prep test to be offered to all Oklahoma juniors

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Every high school junior in Oklahoma will have the opportunity to take the ACT college-preparatory test free of charge under a pilot program being launched by state education officials.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister announced the $1.5 million program Wednesday at a news conference in Oklahoma City. She says it will give as many as 22,000 more public high school juniors the opportunity to take the test who otherwise may not have taken the ACT.

Hofmeister says the money for the voluntary program will come from state funding already allocated for assessments, although Hofmeister says there were no plans to eliminate any currently mandated state tests.

Oklahoma Parent Teacher Association President Brenda Heigl says she hopes the ACT ultimately will replace several end-of-instruction exams required by high school seniors to graduate.