Not every student has the same path to follow after high school graduation. They don’t have the same skill sets, interests or aspirations. So why would we limit the options they have for assessing their readiness to proceed on those paths?

In Ohio, there may be other options available, if lawmakers give serious consideration to state House Bill 326, introduced by Reps. Kevin Ritter, R-Marietta, and Johnathan Newman, R-Troy. “Regarding the use of nationally standardized assessments in public and chartered nonpublic schools and state institutions of higher education,” it would allow those schools to select any valid, reliable, nationally norm-referenced exam used for college admission, including the ACT, SAT, Classic Learning Test, or other qualifying assessments.

Should the bill pass, state institutions of higher learning that require a nationally standardized assessment for admission will have to accept all the assessments approved under the College and Work Ready Assessment System.

“This legislation is about giving students, families, and schools more options and fewer barriers,” Ritter said. “Ohio students come from diverse educational backgrounds, and they deserve the flexibility to demonstrate college readiness using the assessment that best reflects their learning.”

As the state Senate takes up the bill, they must remember how important it is for us to support Ohio students as they move into post-secondary education. Giving them more ways to fulfill assessment requirements is a significant way to do that.