Florida to consider Classic Learning Test for public university admissions, private colleges already accept it
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (FLV) – Next week, the Florida Board of Governors, which oversees the state’s public universities, is expected to vote to accept the Classic Learning Test, also known as CLT, for admission to college.
Florida will be the first state in nation to accept the CLT, alongside the SAT and ACT, for admissions to public higher education institutions.
But the CLT is not new to Florida. In fact, a handful of independent, nonprofit universities in Florida have long-recognized the CLT as a standard for college entry.
Namely, Ave Maria University, Saint Leo University, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Southeastern University, Florida College, Stetson University and Warner University are among the Florida schools that already recognize CLT as part of their admissions process.
“Florida’s independent, nonprofit higher education institutions have always been about choice. These schools provide options for students and families to choose the path that’s best for them,” said Bob Boyd, who is the president and CEO of Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida.
“When it comes to testing, CLT is another option. By accepting CLT, we’re giving students more choice for standard assessments,” he explained.
Independent Colleges and Universities of Florida hosted a webinar last week with Jeremy Tate, founder of CLT, to extend the CLT to more schools within the association. The group represents 30 independent, nonprofit colleges and universities in Florida that serve more than 158,000 students at nearly 200 locations across the Sunshine State.
Many of the graduates of the group’s schools help fill the critical workforce shortages in teaching, nursing and engineering, among other professions.
“At the end of the day, we want our students to succeed. We want them to earn degrees and launch their careers,” said Boyd. “Expanding and promoting choices when it comes K through 12, higher education and testing assessments can open doors of opportunity for Floridians that yield life-long benefits.”
As the name “classic” indicates, CLT intentional favors the classical teachings, philosophers and authors. Names like Aristotle, Benjamin Franklin and Jane Austen are given higher priority than modern progressive authors, according to Jeremy Tate, the founder of CLT.
The assessment was originally developed to eschew Common Core curriculum, which was eliminated by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2019.
The CLT aligns well with Florida’s current standards. The Florida Board of Governors is expected to meet on August 29.
