Virginia Expands Access to the SAT, Giving More Students a Path to College and Career Opportunity

College Board

• August 3, 2026

Virginia schools now have a new opportunity to expand students' access to college and career readiness by offering SAT^® School Day in the 2026-27 school year. This initiative, established through the 2026 passage of Virginia House Bill 410, is designed to help more students take the SAT and connect their results to college and career pathways.

HB 410 requires Virginia school districts to offer the SAT to juniors at their own school, during the school day, during the fall or spring testing windows. By removing the need for students to test during the weekend and potentially travel to an outside test center, the law is designed to break down long-standing barriers to participation-particularly for students who otherwise might not have taken the SAT at all. Governor Spanberger signed the legislation on April 8, 2026, and it went into effect on July 1, 2026.

"House Bill 410 reflects a simple principle: opportunity shouldn't depend on a student's ability to attend or travel around the state on a Saturday," said Jenna Conway, Virginia's Superintendent of Public Instruction. "By bringing the SAT directly into our school days for our juniors and seniors, we're giving every Virginia student a fair chance to show what they know regardless of background or life experience."

"We're proud to partner with Virginia on expanding access to the SAT," said Priscilla Rodriguez, senior vice president of College Readiness Assessments at College Board. "In-school testing is one of the most effective ways to increase access and opportunity to scholarships, AP^® courses, and a clearer view of what's possible after high school. When students can test at their own school, during the school day, participation rises across the board, especially among students who might not otherwise have taken the exam at all. Personally, having access to the SAT through my high school in Fairfax County changed my life, and led me to working to do the same for students everywhere."

"This test is an opportunity, not something you should have to struggle to access, and everybody should be able to have dreams of higher education," said Saniya Yamin, an incoming Harvard University freshman from Loudoun County, whose yearlong efforts brought the bill to fruition. "It takes a lot more effort than you'd think to test on a Saturday morning. Students have to work, travel for away games, or take care of younger siblings. I took the SAT once at my own high school and once had to travel 30-40 minutes because all the seats were filled. And my classmates had to do the same. This bill can have an impact on so many different demographics of students who otherwise wouldn't be able to access the SAT; it will give students more opportunities to pursue the schools they hope to attend."

Virginia SAT School Day Participation

By offering the SAT during the school day, HB 410 gives Virginia families a clearer path to showing colleges, universities, and employers what students know and can do. School Day testing consistently drives higher participation rates than weekend testing alone, helping ensure that a student's location or ability to travel doesn't determine whether they have a shot at scholarships, Advanced Placement^® courses, or college admission.

How the SAT Supports Students

The SAT helps millions of students demonstrate their readiness for college and career. As a standardized measure of the knowledge and skills students need to succeed after high school, the SAT gives higher education institutions valuable insight into students' academic preparation while giving the students an opportunity to show their abilities. For many students, a strong SAT score can strengthen a college application, unlock scholarship opportunities, and open doors that might otherwise remain out of reach.

The SAT is about more than college admissions. It helps students identify their academic strengths, connect those strengths to future fields of study and career pathways, and earn recognition that can increase opportunities for scholarships and college recruitment. Research also shows that SAT scores are predictive of important long-term outcomes, including college success and postcollege earnings. By helping students demonstrate their potential and discover new opportunities, the SAT opens doors to college and lifelong success.

About the Virginia Department of Education
The Virginia Department of Education is the administrative agency for the Commonwealth's public schools. VDOE works in partnership with Virginia's 132 school divisions to support and improve teaching and learning, set high expectations for all students, and promote student safety, well-being, and health. Learn more at doe.virginia.gov.

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About College Board
College Board reaches more than 7 million students a year, helping them navigate the path from high school to college and career. Our not-for-profit membership organization was founded more than 120 years ago. We pioneered programs like the SAT^® and AP^® to expand opportunities for students and help them develop the skills they need. Our BigFuture^® program helps students plan for college, pay for college, and explore careers. Learn more at cb.org.

Media Contact: [email protected]