Utica Community Schools' Efforts Drive SAT Preparation Readiness

Dr. Christine Johns is an experienced academic leader who serves as superintendent of Utica Community Schools (UCS) in Michigan. Committed to preparing students for competitive college and career environments, superintendent Dr. Christine Johns has overseen efforts surrounding Michigan’s recent transition from the American College Test (ACT) to the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT).

The shift was set in place by the Michigan Department of Education, which mandated that, starting with the class of 2016, high school juniors must take the SAT. This followed a determination that the SAT aligned better than the ACT with the state’s academic standards.

Starting in 2015, school administrators coordinated with UCS educators to ensure that they engaged with CollegeBoard training materials. By reviewing sample exams of the newly revised SAT, teachers were able to define optimal testing strategies and transmit this to students.

Students are already on track for SAT success, as they take the PSAT in 10th grade to familiarize themselves with the test structure and materials and define skills they must improve to attain admittance into college. Parents were also encouraged to get involved, and more than 500 attended a district-led SAT awareness meeting.