A USA Today investigation revealed that high school students in Florida who cannot pass required algebra and English exams or achieve sufficient scores on the SAT or ACT are increasingly turning to the Classic Learning Test as an alternative route to graduation. The CLT, an academic progress exam that has gained support among conservative educational advocates, has been available in Florida since 2023.
Mathematics specialists who reviewed the test determined that its math section contains a notably higher proportion of middle school–level content compared to the SAT and ACT. School administrators in at least nine Florida districts have credited the exam with contributing to improved graduation rates following its introduction. According to reporting, some students discovered they could pass by completing only the easier questions and selecting the same answer choice for remaining items. A former mathematics department head in Hillsborough County explained that the test contained sufficient prealgebra questions to allow students to pass using this strategy.
Educators have expressed concerns about the implications of this trend. A school board member in Hillsborough County contended that permitting students to graduate via the CLT without demonstrating college or career readiness poses potential difficulties for their future success. She noted that students might believe they are adequately prepared when they reach higher education or employment, only to struggle with standard assessments.
The company administering the CLT contested characterizations that the exam is less rigorous than alternatives. State policy requires students to score 11 out of 40 points to graduate using the test, a threshold the company reportedly recommended. Florida education officials announced plans to adjust this passing score upward in the coming year. Several states currently mandate that their public universities accept the CLT for college admissions purposes.
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