Greenwood Initiative to Expand Admission Standards, Promote Diversity at State Colleges Heads to Governor

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – College applicants would no longer be required to submit ACT or SAT scores when applying to state universities under a proposal passed recently by state Rep. LaToya Greenwood, D-East St. Louis.

“When it comes to admissions, we need to look at the larger picture of a student’s academic career, not just how they filled out bubbles on a single Saturday,” Greenwood said. “The ACT and SAT can serve as a barrier to college for students from underprivileged backgrounds, with a correlation between household income and test success. Overreliance on these test scores can reduce the number of otherwise qualified applicants at our universities.”

Greenwood’s House Bill 226 would require all public universities and community colleges to adopt a “test-optional admission policy” that would eliminate the requirement for applicants to submit their ACT or SAT scores during the admission process. Applicants would continue to have the option to submit a score if they desired to. The measure works to address equity concerns with university admissions, and would encourage schools to focus more on a student’s overall classroom performance, extracurricular activities and other relevant materials.

“Not everyone has access to expensive test prep courses resources to provide an edge,” Greenwood said. “Colleges that have adopted test-optional policies, such as the University of Chicago, have seen an increase in first-generation and low-income students. As we strive to expand higher education opportunities, let’s continue to remove unnecessary barriers and provide everyone an opportunity to pursue a degree, regardless of background.”

House Bill 226 passed with bipartisan support in both the House and Senate, and now moves to the governor for approval.