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| Company type | Non-profit organization |
|---|---|
| Industry | Standardized testing |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Founders | Everett Franklin Lindquist Ted McCarrel |
| Headquarters | , |
Key people | Janet Godwin (Interim CEO) |
| Products | ACT Standardized Testing |
| Website | www |
ACT, Inc. was an American 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (NTEE classification B90, Educational Services, per the IRS),[1] primarily known for the ACT, a standardized test designed to assess high school students' academic achievement and college readiness. However, in April 2024, it was announced that the company had been purchased by the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management and converted into a for-profit company, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. [2] For the U.S. high school graduating class of 2019, 52 percent of graduates had taken the ACT test; the more than 1.78 million students included virtually all high school graduates in 17 states.[3]
Founded in Iowa City, Iowa, in 1959, the organization has more than 1,000 employees.[4] Its Interim CEO is Janet Godwin, who assumed leadership of ACT in 2020. Previous CEOs include Marten Roorda (2015–2020), Jon Whitmore (2010–2015), Richard L. Ferguson,[5] (1988–2010), and Oluf Davidsen (1974–1988).
In addition to the ACT test, ACT programs include ACT Academy, ACT Aspire, ACT CollegeReady, ACT Online Prep, Mawi Learning, ScootPad, PreACT and PreACT 8/9, ACT Tessera, ACT WorkKeys, ACT Work Ready Communities, and the National Career Readiness Certificate.
- ^ "ACT INC ORGANIZATION PROFILE". National Center for Charitable Statistics. Urban Institute. Archived from the original on 30 December 2016. Retrieved 30 December 2016.
- ^ "What's Behind the ACT's For-Profit Pivot?". Retrieved 2024-04-28.
- ^ "ACT College and Career Readiness Report 2019" (PDF). The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2016-08-24.
- ^ "Iowa Top Employers - IA Major Employers". www.mba-today.com. Retrieved 2016-08-10.
- ^ "Richard L. Ferguson". www.iowalum.com. Retrieved 2016-03-30.