Richardson ISD to replace ACT School Day with SAT for juniors

Richardson Independent School District will transition from offering the ACT School Day to the SAT School Day for all high school juniors beginning this school year. The district stated that the change is designed to better support students as they prepare for college and career opportunities.

RISD officials noted that the transition provides stronger alignment with existing testing protocols. The district already provides the PSAT to students in grades 9, 10, and 11. Because the PSAT and SAT are developed by the same organization and share a similar format, students will be able to build upon the skills and experience they gain through the PSAT each year.

The district also highlighted access to high-quality free resources as a benefit of the switch. Students will have access to a variety of free SAT preparation tools, including the Bluebook testing application and personalized practice through Khan Academy. The district stated these resources make it easier for students to prepare for test day.

While RISD will administer the SAT to juniors during the school day, students will continue to have opportunities to take either the SAT or the ACT on national Saturday test dates. Students interested in registering for a Saturday administration may do so directly through the testing organizations. SAT registration is available through CollegeBoard.org, and ACT registration is available through ACT.org.

The district said it is excited about the opportunities this transition provides and looks forward to supporting students as they prepare for success after high school. Additional information about testing dates, preparation resources, and student supports will be shared throughout the year. For questions or additional information, students should contact their school counselor.