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Author: Hayley Notter

Hayley Notter currently serves as the Director of Curriculum and Content Development. In this role, Hayley oversees the development of reading and English curriculum, assessments, and instructional support materials for high school and college entrance exams and supports marketing initiatives through content development. Hayley joined Academic Approach in 2015. Prior to Academic Approach, Hayley tutored under-performing college freshmen and taught creative writing classes to women incarcerated in county jail in Pittsburgh, PA. Hayley earned a Bachelor of Arts in Creative Writing and Sociology from Beloit College and a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing from Chatham University. In her free time, Hayley pursues her own creative work, volunteers as a reader for a literary journal, and enjoys spending time with friends, family, and her cats Comma and Dash.
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Digital SAT
Hayley Notter

The Bumpy Rollout of the New Digital SAT Format

If your student took the first-ever digital SAT on March 9th and their scores weren’t what they expected, here’s what likely happened, why it’s not the first time the SAT rollout has been rocky, and most importantly, our expert recommendations on what to do about it.

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Major Changes to Chicago Public School Testing

CPS Moves to PreACT 9 Secure for Selective Enrollment Testing THIS FALL. 

  • CPS has formally announced that Selective Enrollment testing will move from the HSAT exam to the PreACT 9 Exam.
  • The test will be a full-length PreACT 9 Secure (2.5 hours), much longer than the HSAT, which was only 1 hour.
  • The reasons for the change seem to be based on the more meaningful academic information the test will provide families and administrators.

If you want to learn more about these changes and how Academic Approach can help, CLICK HERE

2026–27 ACT Registration Is Open

Popular ACT testing sites fill quickly.

Start with a free ACT diagnostic and personalized consultation from Academic Approach to build the right testing timeline and prep plan for your student.

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FREE WEBINAR

Enhanced ACT:
What Families Need to Know

With Matthew Pietrafetta, CEO & Founder
DATE
June 10
TIME
7PM CST
FORMAT
Live on Zoom
Days
Hours
Minutes
Seconds

Whether your student took the PreACT as a sophomore, the ACT as a junior, or is preparing to test soon, this session will help you navigate the new test with confidence.

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Can't make it live? Register anyway and we'll send the recording.

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That tells us you’re serious about your student’s future.

So are we. Let’s stop circling and start a real conversation.

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Chicago Public High School Applications open now!

Learn More at CPS.edu