More than 2,800 high school seniors took another step toward college and career readiness today by going back into their school buildings to take the SAT.
The opportunity to take the college entrance exam free of charge is one afforded annually to juniors by Anne Arundel County Public Schools each spring. It was a casualty of the school shutdown last spring, but Superintendent George Arlotto made clear then it would be a priority for this fall.
Thanks to the work of more than 600 volunteers from schools and central and satellite offices, 2,811 students were able to take the exam in 13 high school buildings today.
“This was a great day for our amazing students and our school system, and it was a picture-perfect example of what can happen when a group of people are determined and focused on a common goal,” Dr. Arlotto said. “Everyone – from our School Test Coordinators to those who proctored the exam, shepherded students to and from school parking lots, and ensured that health and safety precautions were met in every building – was just awesome, and our students were the beneficiaries.”
More than 100 students utilized bus transportation to get to and from elementary school buildings to testing sites. Once there, students were divided into groups of no more than 12 and spread throughout school buildings to create the necessary physical distancing in classrooms, hallways, and restrooms.
Employees from the Division of Food and Nutrition Services provided a free breakfast and a snack to students as they entered buildings and a free lunch and dinner as they exited after the test. Custodial teams in schools cleaned and sanitized classrooms, restrooms, and frequently touched surfaces several times during the four-plus hour session to help ensure that students and staff remained safe.
AACPS plans to offer the PSAT free to all juniors in January and the SAT free to all current juniors this spring.