Texas moves to approve Classic Learning Test for university admissions

Texas higher education commissioner Wynn Rosser announced that the state will formally approve the Classic Learning Test (CLT) as a new admissions option for public universities, expanding its use to homeschooled, private‑school and out‑of‑state applicants. In a letter to campus leaders, Rosser said universities may immediately consider CLT scores for applicants who fall outside the top‑10 % automatic‑admission range, although the statewide rules still recognize only the SAT and ACT.

An independent review conducted by the Texas A&M Public Policy Research Institute found the CLT less predictive of college performance than the SAT and ACT, giving it a score of 1.4 out of 4 compared with 3.8 for the ACT and 4.0 for the SAT. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board did not vote to change admissions rules, but the review was required by a law passed last year. CLT founder and CEO Jeremy Tate defended the exam, saying it aligns with Texas’ new social‑studies standards and emphasizes classic literature and liberal‑arts learning.