WeVote
Log In

Bill

Bill

S 932

An Act relative to admissions requirements to institutions of higher education

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Adam Gómez

Directs DHE to review SAT/ACT use in Massachusetts public college admissions, assess prevalence, outcomes, bias, and diversity; publish findings to key committees within 1 year.

Bill reported favorably by committee and referred to the committee on Senate Ways and Means
0
WeVote Research Nonpartisan
Bill Summary · S 932

Summary — S. 932: "An Act relative to admissions requirements to institutions of higher education"

Status: Reported favorably by committee and referred to Senate Ways and Means
Introduced: (Filed in Senate Docket No. 2080) January 17, 2025; listed as introduced March 11, 2025
Primary sponsor (MA): Senator Adam Gómez

Purpose

S. 932 directs the Massachusetts Department of Higher Education to conduct a comprehensive review of the practice of requiring standardized college entrance aptitude tests (e.g., SAT, ACT) for admission to undergraduate degree programs at public institutions in the Commonwealth. The review is intended to inform policymakers and higher-education institutions about the prevalence, effects, and equity implications of using such tests in admissions.

Key provisions

  • The Department of Higher Education (DHE) shall review the practice of requiring standardized college entrance aptitude tests for undergraduate admission at public higher-education institutions in Massachusetts.
  • Required elements of the review include:
    • Counts and trends of public institutions in Massachusetts and other states that (a) require the test, (b) make it optional, or (c) prohibit its use; and states that have laws/regulations barring or not requiring tests.
    • The experience and outcomes in states that do not require or permit the tests.
    • The impact on student success and achievement of not requiring or not permitting the tests.
    • The extent to which the SAT/ACT accurately and reliably measure achievement, ability, and college readiness.
    • Evidence of bias in the tests.
    • The impact of standardized tests on student diversity (racial/ethnic, socioeconomic, immigrant and first-generation status).
    • Any other topics the DHE determines appropriate.
  • Stakeholder consultation: DHE must consult with secondary and higher-education leaders, public higher-ed students, academic experts on admissions/testing, advocacy organizations (including those representing people of color, immigrants, and low-income communities), and others as appropriate.
  • Publication and reporting requirement: DHE must publish the review on its website and submit it to the chairs of the Joint Committee on Higher Education, the Joint Committee on Education, and the Joint Committee on Racial Equity, Civil Rights, and Inclusion no later than one year after the act’s effective date.

Who would be affected

  • Primary: Massachusetts Department of Higher Education (responsible for conducting the review) and state policymakers who will receive the report.
  • Secondary: Public higher-education institutions in Massachusetts, prospective undergraduate applicants, K–12 educators and counselors, and advocacy groups concerned with access and equity in higher education.
  • Indirect: State legislative committees and stakeholders that may use the findings to develop future policy or regulatory changes.

Timeline / Procedural notes

  • The bill mandates DHE complete and publish the review and submit it to specified legislative committees within one year of the act taking effect.
  • As written, the measure requires a study/report; it does not itself change admissions rules, prohibit or mandate the use of tests, or alter institutional autonomy.

Potential impact

  • Provides policymakers and institutions with consolidated evidence about test use, validity, bias, and equity outcomes to inform future decisions (e.g., adopting test-optional policies, legislative limits, or guidance).
  • Could influence public debate and legislative proposals on admissions fairness, access for underrepresented groups, and alignment of admissions criteria with student success.
  • The ultimate policy effect depends on how the report’s findings are used by the Legislature, the DHE, and campus leaders.

Limitation / caveat

  • S. 932 is a directive to study and report; it does not itself change admissions practices or create enforceable admissions standards.

Compiled from official sources — confirm details with the bill’s official record.

Sign in to ask a question.