Administration of a nationally recognized college entrance exam authorization

This bill requires Minnesota public high schools to administer a nationally recognized college entrance exam (such as the ACT or SAT) to all students in grades 11 or 12 at no cost to students, beginning in the 2026-2027 school year. The Minnesota Department of Education must contract with an exam provider through competitive bidding, ensuring data privacy safeguards and transparency about test content. School districts must cover exam fees for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, while students not eligible may be required to pay (with fee waivers available). The exam is mandated to meet federal accountability requirements but is not a high school graduation requirement.