Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025
Summary
The Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025 (H.R. 5968) aims to promote the use of the Classic Learning Test (CLT) in military service academies and federally-run secondary schools. Specifically, it requires military academies to accept CLT scores alongside SAT and ACT scores for admission. It also mandates that Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) and Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) schools administer the CLT to 11th-grade students.
Expected Effects
If enacted, this bill would broaden the standardized testing options available to students applying to military academies. It would also introduce the CLT as a standard assessment tool in DODEA and BIE schools. This could potentially influence curriculum and resource allocation within these institutions.
Potential Benefits
- Expanded Testing Options: Provides students with an alternative standardized test for college admissions.
- Potential Curriculum Shift: May encourage a greater focus on classical education in federally-run schools.
- Increased Competition Among Testing Services: Could lead to innovation and improvements in standardized testing.
- Standardized Assessment: Provides a uniform measure of student performance across DODEA and BIE schools.
- Data Collection: Allows for the collection of data on student performance on the CLT, which could inform educational policy.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Unfunded Mandate: The bill does not specify funding for administering the CLT, potentially straining the budgets of DODEA and BIE schools.
- Curriculum Narrowing: Overemphasis on CLT preparation could narrow the curriculum and reduce focus on other important subjects.
- Increased Testing Burden: Students in DODEA and BIE schools would face an additional standardized test.
- Limited Applicability: The CLT may not be widely accepted by colleges and universities outside of military academies, limiting its usefulness for students.
- Potential Bias: Concerns may arise regarding the content and scoring of the CLT, and whether it is biased towards certain student populations.
Most Disadvantaged Areas:
Constitutional Alignment
The bill appears to align with the constitutional authority of Congress to provide for the common defense (Article I, Section 8) by influencing education at military academies. It also aligns with Congress's power to regulate activities within federal territories and possessions, which could extend to BIE-operated schools. However, the requirement for federally-run schools to administer the CLT raises questions about potential federal overreach into education, an area traditionally reserved for state and local control. The bill does not appear to infringe upon any specific individual rights or liberties protected by the Constitution or its amendments.
Impact Assessment: Things You Care About ⓘ
This action has been evaluated across 19 key areas that matter to you. Scores range from 1 (highly disadvantageous) to 5 (highly beneficial).