DOVER, DE — Senator Eric Buckson (R – South Dover) is leading a statewide discussion on how Delaware measures high school success, calling for a reassessment of the SAT’s role as the primary measure of school performance and student proficiency.
A former public educator and coach with Polytech High School for 30 years, Senator Buckson has long raised concerns about using a college admissions exam to evaluate how well schools are educating students or preparing them for life after graduation.
“The SAT has value for students who plan to attend college, but it was never designed to measure mastery of state standards or the effectiveness of classroom instruction,” Senator Buckson said. “When it becomes the main yardstick for success, it tells an incomplete story.”
Under current policy, every 11th-grade student in Delaware is required to take the SAT on SAT School Day at the state’s expense, roughly $51 per student. During the 2023–2024 school year, 9,494 Delaware students took the exam, despite the fact that many do not plan to attend college and have little incentive to take the test seriously.
National data shows that postsecondary pathways are shifting. In 2022, about 62 percent of high school graduates nationwide enrolled directly in college, down from 70 percent in 2016. At the same time, Delaware employers continue to report strong demand for skilled workers in trades and technical fields that often offer high wages, rapid job placement, and little to no student debt.
“Students who pursue career and technical education, apprenticeships, or immediate entry into the workforce are succeeding in meaningful ways,” Senator Buckson said. “Those successes should count when we evaluate schools.”
Buckson has been in ongoing discussions with education leaders, policymakers, and stakeholders across Delaware about how to modernize the state’s accountability system. Federal law allows states to use multiple measures of success, including industry credentials, dual enrollment, and work-based learning.
“The SAT is not a bad test,” Buckson said. “It’s simply not the right tool to define success for every student and every school. Delaware can do better.”
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