DOD Considers Pro-America Test For K-12 Schools, Academies

The Department of Defense may soon implement a new testing option for students in Department of Defense Education Activity (DODEA) schools, which would emphasize traditional subjects and classical literature. This initiative is part of the current Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which mandates that 11th-grade students in DODEA schools be allowed to take the college admissions test of their choice, including the Classic Learning Test (CLT).

Senator Jim Banks, R-Ind., introduced the amendment to the NDAA during its markup in July, stating that it would help attract talented students from diverse educational backgrounds to military academies. “Accepting the CLT alongside the SAT and ACT opens the door for talented students from every educational background,” Banks said. The CLT is designed to focus on reading, logic, and classic texts, which Banks argues are essential skills for future military leaders.

The push for the CLT gained momentum after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth expressed his support for the test on social media. Hegseth, who co-authored a bestselling book on classical education, emphasized the need for military academies to attract the best candidates. His advocacy aligns with a growing movement towards classical education, which emphasizes the study of Western great books and traditional subjects.

Despite the amendment’s support, four Republican senators voted against a related measure that would have required military academies to accept the CLT as an admissions test. Senators Joni Ernst, Deb Fischer, Mike Rounds, and Tim Sheehy opposed the amendment, with only Ernst’s office responding to inquiries about the vote. Ernst stated that the admissions process already accommodates various standardized tests, including the CLT.

Critics of current standardized testing, particularly the SAT and Advanced Placement (AP) programs, argue that these tests have become politicized and have lowered academic standards. The College Board, which administers the SAT, has faced scrutiny for its leadership and the perceived decline in the quality of its assessments. The CLT emerged as a response to these concerns, aiming to provide an alternative that aligns more closely with classical education principles.

The CLT has gained traction in several states, with Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas, and Wyoming passing laws to make it an option for college admissions and K-12 testing. Approximately 300 higher education institutions currently accept the CLT, which was established in 2015. Senator Banks has also proposed a standalone bill, the Promoting Classical Learning Act, which would require military academies to accept the CLT and mandate its availability to all 11th-graders in federally administered K-12 schools.

As the debate over educational standards continues, the potential adoption of the CLT by DODEA schools and military academies may signal a shift towards more traditional educational practices in the U.S. education system.