One Big Idea: Student Haley Casten on Eliminating the SAT

If you could share One Big Idea to change the future of education, what would it be? 

In the 13th episode of Future of School’s One Big Idea series, our guest is Haley Casten, a rising senior at Castle View High School in Castle Rock, Colorado. 

Haley shares her big idea of eliminating the SAT and other high-stakes college admissions exams, or at least reducing their importance to the admissions process. She explains how for many students, like herself, who are good students but have anxiety around test-taking, they may not perform on the test in a way that demonstrates their actual ability. From Haley’s point of view, it’s much better to look at the student holistically, including their grades, character, extracurricular activities, and other well-rounded factors that are a truer representation of who they are as a learner. 

“My grades are all A’s and B’s, and I feel that my SAT score doesn’t really show how hard I work in those classes, and how smart I actually am,” Haley explains. 

What’s your One Big Idea to transform education? Connect with us on social media or on our website, www.futureof.school, to share! Follow Future of School on Twitter @futureof_school and follow Amy Valentine @amyvalentine555.

Learn more about Future of School and its mission to mobilize change in American K-12 education from a one-size-fits-all system to one that ensures all students reach their unbounded potential no matter where their learning takes place at www.futureof.school. 

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