6,000 students in the Puget Sound region participate in SAT Day

For the Reporter

The Road Map Region Race to the Top grant funded 6,000 students from Auburn, Federal Way, Highline, Renton, Seattle and Tukwila to take the test during the regular school day on Wednesday.

The grant paid the $50 registration fee and covered an online SAT-prep course for each student last month.

The SATs are a critical part of the college admission process, and offering the test for free during regular school hours is an incredible way to help close the opportunity gap for college enrollment.

In addition, the College Board recently made changes to the SAT and the grant helped prepare students for the new test.

In its third year, SAT Day has dramatically lowered barriers to college enrollment, especially for students of color. The number of Hispanic and American Indian students taking the SAT in the region has more than doubled, and the growth rate for students of color now outpaces that of white students.

The SAT is only one assessment administered by the College Board that students take in order to prepare for college and Advanced Placement (AP) classes. In addition to gauging college readiness, these assessments help schools and districts pinpoint areas for improvements in instruction, and identify students who may succeed in more rigorous AP courses.

The Race to the Top grant’s work in ‘Stay Strong’ is focused on implementing multiple strategies to help more students enroll in postsecondary education and be successful. The opportunity for students to take the ReadiStep, SAT and PSAT in school for free is just one effort. The adoption of the College Board College and Career Readiness Pathway costs $2.9 million in Race to the Top grant funds.

Students in the Kent School District will take the SAT in April.