Banks Secures Amendment Requiring Military Academies to Accept CLT ExamMonday, June 22, 2026

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jim Banks (R-Ind.) secured an amendment in the Fiscal Year 2027 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), passed by the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) last week, requiring military service academies to accept the Classical Learning Test as an admissions option and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools to offer the exam as one of three nationally recognized standardized tests. The bill will now head to the Senate floor for a vote. Senator Jim Banks: “I was proud to secure this amendment to help our military academies attract the best and brightest young Americans. We should be looking for future military leaders in as many places as possible and accepting the CLT exam is an important step in that direction.” Full text of the SASC NDAA base text available here. Read more about the CLT exam and Senator Banks’ amendment here. Background: Last May, Senator Banks introduced the Promoting Classical Learning Act, legislation requiring U.S. military service academies to accept the CLT in addition to the SAT and ACT. ###