State-Funded ACT Tests

State law requires districts and community schools to administer the state-funded ACT or SAT to all grade 11 students in the spring of the school year. Each year, districts and schools will select the test to administer to their juniors.

*Beginning Spring 2025 for the Class of 2026, a parent or guardian can exercise the option for their student not to take the state-funded ACT or SAT as indicated in state law.

All LEAs should make sure they have a current email address in OEDS (OEDS.ContactUs@education.ohio.gov) and with the Ohio K-12 Help Desk (support@ohio-k12.org).

• Updating OEDS for Organization Administrators
• Updating personal contact information in OEDS for non-administrators

Spring 2026 ACT Test Dates

Districts choose test mode (paper or online) and then the start date. All of the subsequent dates for the particular mode chosen are available for testing.*

Window 1

• Paper: February 24, 2026
• Online and Accommodated: February 24 - March 6, 2026

Window 2

• Paper: March 10, 2026
• Online and Accommodated: March 10 - 20, 2026

Window 3

• Paper: March 24, 2026
• Online and Accommodated: March 24 - April 3, 2026

Annual Vendor Selection Survey for Spring 2026 ACT or SAT Testing

The annual vendor selection survey for district selection of college and career readiness tests (ACT or SAT) will be sent to superintendents on August 18, 2025, and will remain open until September 19, 2025. To help districts make this important choice of ACT or SAT, each vendor’s updated spring 2026 informational presentations are available here:

Ohio ACT State Testing Overview—2026

• Program Overview for ACT: Ohio State-Funded Testing (video)
• Program Overview for ACT: Ohio State-Funded Testing (pdf)

Ohio SAT State Testing Overview—2026

• Watch this webinar
• Review the webinar's accompanying presentation

 Both vendors will be contacting districts/schools in late October. If you do not receive a communication from your selected vendor by the first week in November or have any questions, please contact Noël Nethers.

Spring 2025 ACT Test Dates

Districts choose test mode (paper or online) and then the start date. All of the subsequent dates for the particular mode chosen are available for testing.*

Paper:

• February 25, 2025
  • accommodated February 25-28, March 3-7, 2025
• March 11, 2025
  • accommodated March 11-14 and 17-21, 2025
• March 25, 2025
  • accommodated March 25-28 and March 31, April 1-4, 2025

Online (including accommodated):

• February 25-28, March 3-7, 2025
• March 11-14 and March 17-21, 2025
• March 25-28  and March 31, April 1-4, 2025

*See Ohio ACT State Testing webpage for rules/requirements. (To be updated by November 1, 2024)

ACT Resources

• ACT Schedule of Events for Spring 2025 Administration
• Free ACT Practice Test | ACT

Please direct questions:

• about ACT test administration: statetesting@act.org or call 800-553-6244 Ext. 2800
• for the Office of Assessment: Noël Nethers at noel.nethers@education.ohio.gov or call 614-728-2759
• about graduation requirements: gradrequirements@education.ohio.gov

Last Modified: 8/20/2025 2:16:55 PM

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