When Jeremy Tate founded the Classic Learning Test (CLT) in 2015, he had a simple goal: create an alternative to the increasingly politicized SAT and ACT that would honor the Western tradition.
Now, nearly a decade later, his vision may soon reach the halls of West Point and the Department of Defense schools serving 70,000 military children worldwide.
The current Senate version of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) includes an amendment requiring Department of Defense Education Activity schools to offer 11th grade students the college admissions test of their parents’ choice. This opens the door for students to take the CLT, which emphasizes Great Books and classical learning over the shortened reading passages and political messaging that have crept into mainstream testing.
‘Crucial for military readiness and educational excellence’
Senator Jim Banks of Indiana, who successfully added the amendment during markup in July, sees this as crucial for military readiness and educational excellence. “Accepting the CLT alongside the SAT and ACT opens the door for talented students from every educational background,” Banks told The Federalist. “Many homeschool students take the CLT, which focuses on reading, logic, and classic texts in a way other tests don’t. These are good skills to take to the academies.”
The timing aligns perfectly with Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s support for classical education. Hegseth, who co-authored the bestselling book “Battle for the American Mind” about classical education, tweeted his support for accepting CLT at military academies back in May. His background gives weight to the initiative, as someone who has studied both military leadership and educational reform.
The contrast between the CLT approach and current mainstream testing couldn’t be starker. While the College Board has shortened SAT reading passages from 500-750 words to a mere 25-150 words, roughly the length of a tweet, the CLT maintains rigorous standards. Students encounter actual excerpts from Augustine, Aquinas, Shakespeare and the Founding Fathers rather than simplified snippets.
This educational philosophy has gained remarkable momentum. The United States now has an estimated 1,500 classical schools, with one-quarter opening since 2020 alone. According to a 2024 Arcadia Education study, nearly 700,000 American children were classically educated in the 2023-24 academic year, with projections reaching 1.4 million students by 2035.
CLT growing popularity reflects parents’ frustration with woke curricula
The growth reflects parents’ frustration with politicized curricula, particularly the College Board’s Advanced Placement history courses. Under president David Coleman’s leadership since 2012, these classes have undergone controversial revisions. The AP European history class no longer mentions Christopher Columbus, while AP U.S. history gives minimal attention to founding principles of liberty, according to analyses by the National Association of Scholars.
“You can fundamentally reorient education with a different assessment that draws from the Western tradition,” Tate explained in a recent interview. His organization plans to compete directly with College Board’s AP classes by offering dual-credit high school courses without the ideological baggage.
DOD appears receptive to CLT
The military connection runs deeper than just testing options. Classical education deliberately cultivates virtues essential for republican self-government: honesty, respect for others, hard work, attentiveness and perseverance. These character traits align naturally with military values and leadership development.
Four Republican senators initially voted against Banks’ broader amendment requiring military academies to accept CLT: Joni Ernst of Iowa, Deb Fischer of Nebraska, Mike Rounds of South Dakota, and Tim Sheehy of Montana. Ernst’s office claimed the academies already accept CLT, though official academy websites still list only SAT and ACT requirements.
“My 23 years in the Army Reserves and National Guard taught me that there is no single recipe for what makes a great soldier or great leader,” Ernst stated. However, when pressed about the discrepancy between her claims and official academy policies, her office did not respond.
The political dynamics reveal interesting tensions. ACT, a CLT competitor, is headquartered in Ernst’s home state of Iowa and was purchased by a private equity firm last year. The business interests surrounding standardized testing create significant financial incentives to maintain the status quo.
Banks has also introduced standalone legislation, the Promoting Classical Learning Act, which would require military academies to accept CLT and mandate that all federally administered K-12 schools offer CLT to 11th graders. This would include both DODEA schools and Bureau of Indian Education schools.
The Department of Defense appears receptive to the changes. A DOD official told The Federalist that the department “is currently assessing options for accepting the Classic Learning Test as part of Military Service Academy admissions, and as part of its broader efforts to support student pathways into college and overall career readiness.”
Five states have already passed laws making CLT an option: Arkansas, Florida, Oklahoma, Texas and Wyoming. These laws range from school choice programs to entrance requirements and scholarships at state universities. Approximately 300 higher education institutions currently accept CLT scores.
Significance for Catholic Families
For Catholic families and conservative parents, the CLT offers something increasingly rare in modern education: assessment aligned with their values. Classical education emphasizes faith, virtue, and the Western Christian tradition that shaped American founding principles. Students read primary sources from Augustine’s “Confessions” to the Federalist Papers, encountering ideas that built Western civilization.
The broader implications extend beyond testing. Classical schools teach grammar, logic and rhetoric as core disciplines, preparing students to think clearly and communicate effectively. They memorize poetry, learn multiple languages, and study history through original documents rather than textbook summaries.
This approach produces graduates well-prepared for military academies and public service. They arrive with strong writing skills, familiarity with philosophical and theological arguments, and grounding in the principles underlying American constitutional government.
The National Defense Authorization Act (mentioned above) represents more than a policy tweak. It signals recognition that educational choices matter for national security and military effectiveness. Future officers shaped by classical education bring different perspectives and capabilities than those formed by politically correct curricula that minimize American achievements.
As the NDAA moves through Congress, the CLT amendment faces the usual legislative hurdles. But with Defense Secretary Hegseth’s support and growing parent demand for alternatives to woke education, the prospects look promising.
The ultimate goal extends beyond any single test or policy. Classical education advocates seek cultural renewal through educational excellence, preparing young Americans to understand their heritage and serve their country effectively. For military families stationed around the world, having access to education rooted in Western tradition rather than contemporary political fashions represents a significant victory.
Parents interested in supporting these efforts can contact their senators about the NDAA amendment and research classical education options in their communities. The movement’s rapid growth suggests many families hunger for education that builds character alongside intellect, preparing students for both earthly citizenship and eternal purposes.
