S.1747 - Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025 (119th Congress)
Summary
The "Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025" (S.1747) mandates the acceptance of the Classical Learning Test (CLT) alongside the SAT and ACT for military service academy applications. It also requires Federally-run secondary schools, including DODEA and BIE-operated schools, to administer the CLT to 11th-grade students. The bill aims to promote classical education within these institutions.
Expected Effects
This bill will likely increase the prevalence of the CLT as an alternative standardized test. It could also influence curriculum and teaching methods in federally-run schools. The Act could also lead to increased funding and resources allocated towards administering and potentially incorporating classical learning principles into education.
Potential Benefits
- Wider range of assessment: Provides students with more options for standardized testing.
- Potential for curriculum enrichment: May encourage schools to incorporate classical learning principles.
- Increased awareness of classical education: Could lead to greater interest in classical subjects among students.
- Standardized test score alternatives: Military academies would have more options to evaluate candidates.
- Exposure to classical learning: Students in federally run schools will be exposed to classical learning through the CLT.
Most Benefited Areas:
Potential Disadvantages
- Increased testing burden: Students in federally-run schools will be required to take an additional standardized test.
- Potential for curriculum narrowing: Schools may focus on CLT preparation at the expense of other subjects.
- Unclear impact on student outcomes: The effectiveness of the CLT in predicting academic success is uncertain.
- Potential cost increases: Administering the CLT will require additional resources.
- Equity concerns: Students from disadvantaged backgrounds may not have access to resources to prepare for the CLT.
Constitutional Alignment
The bill's constitutional alignment is primarily related to Congress's power to provide for the common defense (Article I, Section 8) and potentially the general welfare (Preamble). The requirement for military academies to accept the CLT could be seen as an exercise of congressional authority over the armed forces. The mandate for federally-run schools raises questions about federal overreach into education, an area traditionally reserved for state and local control, though federal funding provides a basis for such mandates. The First Amendment's Establishment Clause may be relevant if the CLT promotes a specific religious viewpoint, but this is not evident from the bill's text.
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).