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Republican Lawmaker Introduces Bill to Require Classical Learning Test at Military Academies
Rep. Mary Miller, R-Ill., has introduced legislation that would require U.S. service academies and federally operated secondary schools to incorporate a standardized test based on classical learning principles alongside traditional college entrance exams.
The Promoting Classical Learning Act of 2025, introduced in the House on November 3, would direct West Point, the Naval Academy, the Air Force Academy and other service academies to accept the Classic Learning Test (CLT) in addition to the SAT and ACT for admissions purposes. The bill would also require federally-run schools to administer the exam to all 11th grade students.
“America’s service academies should represent the highest ideals of our nation — courage, integrity, and intellect. The Classic Learning Test upholds those same ideals,” Miller said in a statement. “Requiring our military academies to accept the CLT will help cultivate a new generation of leaders who are not only exceptionally capable but deeply grounded in the principles that make America strong.”
The legislation was introduced in partnership with Sen. Jim Banks, R-Ind., and would affect both the Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) and the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) school systems, compelling them to administer the CLT to high school juniors.
According to Miller’s office, the proposal would codify a policy already initiated by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, who directed U.S. service academies to begin accepting the CLT starting with the 2027 admissions cycle. The Pentagon formally announced this change in September 2025.
The CLT, created in 2015 by Jeremy Tate, differs significantly from traditional standardized tests by assessing reading, writing, and math skills using classical texts drawn from the Western canon. The test has gained traction as what proponents describe as an alternative to the Common Core-aligned SAT and ACT.
The test’s adoption has been growing steadily across the educational landscape. More than 320 colleges and universities nationwide now accept CLT scores, and both Florida and Arkansas have approved the exam for use in their public schools. Miller’s office reports that over 120,000 students in Florida alone have taken the test since September 2023.
In advocating for the legislation, Miller’s office criticized the College Board, which administers the SAT, claiming it “acts as a taxpayer-funded monopoly that dictates the curriculum for schoolchildren despite being unelected and unaccountable.” The statement further alleged that the College Board “claims to be neutral, but pressures schools to adopt leftist curricula while censoring right-of-center materials.”
The proposed legislation comes amid broader educational debates in the United States over curriculum content and standardized testing. Supporters of the CLT argue it better serves students from private, religious, classical, and homeschool educational backgrounds.
“The CLT validates the educational choices of millions of families nationwide who choose private, religious, classical, and homeschool models,” Miller’s summary states. The bill is designed to “break up that monopoly and expand access to classical testing for students in federal schools, offering what it calls a rigorous, standards-based alternative rooted in logic and timeless literature.”
This initiative reflects ongoing tensions in American education policy, particularly around the content of standardized tests and their influence on curriculum development. Critics of traditional standardized tests have long argued that they exert outsized influence on what is taught in American classrooms.
As of publication, the Pentagon had not responded to requests for comment on the proposed legislation. The bill’s prospects in the current congressional session remain uncertain.
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7 Comments
I’m curious to see how this bill would be received. Integrating classical learning approaches at service academies could produce valuable benefits, but there may also be concerns about unintended consequences or political agendas.
Valid point. Any changes to admissions criteria at such prestigious institutions should be carefully evaluated to ensure they truly uphold the highest ideals of service and leadership.
Interesting proposal to bring more classical learning into military academies. While traditional exams like the SAT/ACT have their place, incorporating an alternative like the CLT could help cultivate well-rounded leaders grounded in core principles.
This is a bold move by the Republican lawmaker. Proponents argue it would uphold the ideals of America’s service academies, but opponents may see it as an attempt to impose a particular ideological agenda. It will be interesting to follow the debate.
I’m a bit skeptical of this proposal. While classical learning has value, requiring the CLT could disadvantage qualified applicants from diverse backgrounds who may not have access to that curriculum. Admissions should remain fair and inclusive.
As someone with an interest in military history and strategy, I think the idea of emphasizing classical learning has merit. It could help cultivate critical thinking and moral reasoning in future officers. But the details would need close examination.
As an educator, I have mixed feelings. Classical learning approaches can develop important skills, but admissions changes at elite military schools should be driven by evidence, not political agendas. The focus should be on preparing the most capable future leaders.