CT to Add February ACT Test Date in New York State

IOWA CITY, IOWA—ACT, the nonprofit developer of the ACT® test and other assessments taken by millions of individuals worldwide, will begin offering its February national ACT test date in the state of New York starting in 2019. The state’s high school students will now have six opportunities each year to take the ACT, rather than five. ACT’s February test date, which is offered in other states, has not previously been offered in New York due to a state disclosure law, but a new exemption passed by the state legislature has changed that.

“ACT commends Senator Kenneth LaValle and Representative William Magnarelli for their leadership and commitment in passing an exemption to this law, which will allow New York students greater flexibility in pursuing their educational dreams while still complying with the state’s test disclosure requirements,” said Scott Montgomery, ACT senior vice president of state and federal programs. “We look forward to continuing to work with the state to help improve students’ readiness for college and career and provide them with college application and scholarship opportunities.”

New York state law requires standardized testing companies to make regular disclosures of test contents to the State Education Department. Due to the disclosure schedule, ACT was previously limited to offering only five test dates throughout the year. In an effort to provide students expanded testing opportunities, Senate Bill 8639 was introduced by Sen. LaValle allowing ACT an exemption to offer an additional test date annually while still complying with disclosure requirements. Senate Bill 8639 was signed into law by Governor Andrew Cuomo on Nov. 5.