Local students prep as Georgia standardized testing returns

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WRDW/WAGT) – The Georgia Board of Regents will require students to take the ACT or SAT to get into four universities in the fall of 2026.

Those schools include Georgia State University, Georgia Southern University, Kennesaw State University and Augusta University.

Test requirements had already been restored for the University of Georgia, Georgia Tech and Georgia College and State University — the system’s three most selective schools.

All of this means things are starting to return to how they were pre-COVID.

Both Richmond and Columbia county schools said just because the state put the requirement on hold, preparing students for the tests never stopped.

While the state pumped the brakes on SAT and ACT testing, Richmond County pressed the gas.

“We’ve always offered opportunities to help our students kind of hone in on those skills. We have prep classes at every high school, in addition to other resources that kids can engage in, just to kind of go ahead and maximize their potential on that SAT or ACT,” said Charlie Tudor, advanced studies program administrator for Richmond County schools.

Tudor says they start prepping students in eighth grade.

“All of our eighth graders take the PSAT in October of their eighth-grade year. We look at that data and go ahead and encourage our kids. Some of them are ready to take an AP class in ninth grade, we look at that AP potential there,” said Tudor.

Every year after, the curriculum is woven into their class schedule.

“Those skills and that knowledge are built into the curriculum already. A lot of our schools have SAT and ACT plans in there. There are also Saturday study sessions for certain targeted kids that need that extra support,” said Tudor.

Tudor says they never want cost to get in the way of academics.

“College Board and ACT, ‘ve always provided fee waivers based on your income. Here in Richmond County, if we know there’s a need for one of our students at the school level, we always make sure things happen to make sure there are no barriers or challenges as far as finances go with kids,” said Tudor.

Columbia County says they have been doing things just the same as before the pandemic as well.

All the requirements for ACT and SAT testing are set to start in the fall of 2026.

If you want to sign your child up for extra study classes, leaders say the best way is to contact the school counselor.

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