Dear Rising Seniors, Upper Mids, and Families,

Following the School's announcement on Friday of reopening plans, we are writing with recommendations regarding taking the SAT and ACT. Please review the following information carefully. (Rising upper mids, please see special note below.)

While we recognize the frustration this may cause, we appreciate your patience with the fact that the pandemic situation is highly fluid. The School is intensely focused on reopening campus and supporting students while keeping all members of the School community safe.

Therefore, we ask families to consider the following revised recommendations:

• As our preferred course of action, please do not register to take the August 29 test. Hotchkiss will offer SAT School Day testing for all seniors on September 23 and October 14, both Wednesdays. You will sign up for these dates through Hotchkiss, not the College Board website. Ms. Grusauski will reach out on August 1 with information about signing up. Subject Tests cannot be taken on September 23 and October 14.
   
• Students from states that are considered high-risk will not be able to come to campus until they have quarantined in Connecticut or another low-risk state for two weeks. Therefore, if you live in such a state, we strongly recommend that you do not take the August 29 test, as doing so will delay your ability to return to campus for the start of school.
   
• If you feel you must take the August 29 test, and if you live in a low-risk state, we ask that you carefully follow safety protocols when taking the test. This means wearing a mask, washing your hands frequently, and maintaining six feet of physical distance wherever possible.

• We previously communicated our desire to host Hotchkiss-only tests on these dates. Unfortunately, this has not been permitted by the College Board. Because hosting students from outside of our community for a test does not align with our safety protocols, we will cancel these test dates.
   
• If you have already registered for one of these dates, you can submit a test date change to register for the November 7 test to be administered at Hotchkiss through your online College Board student account. (The registration fee cannot be transferred to tests scheduled for September 23 or October 14.) 
   
• As of now, we remain a test site for the November 7 SAT and Subject Tests. Regrettably, it is possible that this date may also be canceled. We will continue to monitor health and community needs, and we will do everything possible to host the November SAT as long as the health and safety of our community make it possible to do so.
   
• December SAT and Subject Tests: You are free to register for December SAT or Subject Tests at a location near your home. As communicated, all students will be learning remotely after departing for Thanksgiving break and until returning to campus in January.

SAT Subject Tests
Subject tests should not be considered a priority at this time. They are not currently required anywhere, and most schools have relaxed policies that recommend them.

• Registration for the September 12 ACT will not begin for another few weeks. We are working to be designated as a Hotchkiss-only test center for this date, but the request is still pending. We will provide more information as it becomes available.
   
• Hotchkiss will offer "district" ACT testing on October 6 for any seniors who want to take the ACT. You will sign up for this date through Hotchkiss, not the ACT website. Ms. Grusauski will reach out closer to August 1 about signing up. 
   
• You are welcome to register for the December ACT at a location near your home, as Hotchkiss students will be learning remotely at that time.