Spring 2027 ACT + Science + Writing, PreACT Secure, and PreACT 9 Secure Pre-ID and Non-College Reportable (NCR) Details

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr

Guidance explains how Spring 2027 ACT + Science + Writing, PreACT Secure, and PreACT 9 Secure Pre-ID records are created and managed in ISBE’s Student Information System (SIS), including inclusion rules, grade-level roster logic, and special handling for some grade 12 students. It details how Home, Serving, and Testing Region-County-District-Type-School (RCDTS) codes appear in the Pre-ID report, how split enrollments affect initial Testing RCDTS assignment, and how to edit those values. It also covers online versus paper test format updates, participation confirmation in ACT Now with key deadlines, and the student registration transmission schedule to ACT Now through April 23, 2027.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryExam

FormatPDF

Pages3

Reading Time8 min

AccessFree to download

Program coverage and Pre-ID record creation

Exclusion rules (IDEA Services and DLM-AA)

Grade-level participation logic

Grade 12 identification and diploma exclusions

Home, Serving, and Testing RCDTS codes

Split enrollments and initial assignment rules

Online process in SIS

Editing Testing RCDTS code

Switching Test Format (Online to Paper)

Batch process in SIS

ACT/PreACT Secure Pre-ID template

Confirming participation in ACT Now

Confirmation windows and deadlines

Transmission schedule to ACT Now

Registration file dates and exceptions

Spring 2027 ACT + Science + Writing, PreACT Secure, and PreACT 9 Secure Pre-ID and Non-College Reportable (NCR) Details The ACT + Science + Writing, PreACT Secure, and PreACT 9 Secure Pre-ID functionality is available in ISBE’s Student Information System (SIS) . All students enrolled in SIS are automatically included as described below, unless both IDEA Services and Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA) indicators are marked “Yes” under the Program Indicators tab. • An ACT + Science + Writing record is automatically created when a student has a grade 11 enrollment in SIS. • A PreACT Secure record is automatically created when a student has a grade 10 enrollment in SIS. • A PreACT 9 Secure record is automatically created when a student has a grade 9 enrollment in SIS. Grade 12 Students Some grade 12 students may also be rostered to take the ACT + Science + Writing, based on the logic described in this document. If your district believes a grade 12 student is erroneously identified as being required to participate in the ACT + Science + Writing or vice versa, please contact the Assessment Department by calling 866-317-6034 or writing to [assessment@isbe.net](assessment@isbe.net. Grade)[. Grade](assessment@isbe.net. Grade) 12 students identified for testing must participate only if they remain enrolled in SIS during the testing window. Students scheduled to graduate and receive a regular high school diploma before the spring 2027 administration should not test. Rather, the district awarding the diploma may submit a diploma exemption request on the student’s behalf. More details about how to submit a request are posted on the ISBE high school website under “Overview and General Information.” Home, Serving, Service Provider and Testing Region-County-District-Type-School (RCDTS) Codes The Pre-ID report shows a student’s Home RCDTS code and Serving RCDTS code from their active SIS enrollment. The Testing RCDTS code exists only on the Pre-ID and is initially populated using the student’s Serving RCDTS code or, if different from both the Home and Serving RCDTS code, the Service Provider RCDTS code. Some students have “split” enrollments, meaning they are associated with multiple Serving RCDTS codes and attend each for less than 100% of the school day. In these cases, the Testing RCDTS code is initially assigned using the Serving RCDTS code with the highest Percent of Day Attended (PDA) . If the PDA values are equal and the Serving RCDTS code is a category 1, 2, 3, 6, or C entity, the Home RCDTS code is used to initially populate the Testing RCDTS code. If the Serving RCDTS code is a category 9 entity, the Home RCDTS code is used to initially populate the Testing RCDTS code, regardless of the PDA. In all cases, please coordinate with the student’s serving school or service provider to determine where the student will test, and edit the Testing RCDTS code in the Pre-ID accordingly. Online Process: Edit Testing RCDTS code or Test Format for ACT + Science + Writing Log into SIS. On the left, select Assessment, then Pre-ID, then ACT/PreACT Secure. 1. Search for the student using the SID and either First Name, Last Name, or Date of Birth, then select Search. 2. Update the Testing RCDTS code, if needed, and select Submit. 3. For ACT + Science + Writing only: Edit the Test Format from Online to Paper if a student needs a paper format as an accommodation. Write to [assessment@isbe.net](assessment@isbe.net) with questions about using a paper format. Note: Accommodations (including paper format) and English Learner (EL) supports for students taking PreACT 9 Secure or PreACT Secure will be identified by school staff and entered directly into ACT Now and do not require ACT approval. Visit the “Manage Accommodations” section under Step 1: Pre-Administration on the ACT-hosted web page for Illinois for more details. All PreACT Secure and PreACT 9 Secure records are transmitted to ACT Now as “Online” because this field does not af

FAQs

How are ACT + Science + Writing, PreACT Secure, and PreACT 9 Secure Pre-ID records created in SIS?

An ACT + Science + Writing record is created when a student has grade 11 enrollment in SIS. A PreACT Secure record is created for grade 10 enrollment, and a PreACT 9 Secure record is created for grade 9 enrollment. Students enrolled in SIS are included automatically unless both IDEA Services and Alternate Assessment (DLM-AA) indicators are marked “Yes” under Program Indicators.

What determines the Testing RCDTS code for students, especially with split enrollments?

The Testing RCDTS code exists only on the Pre-ID and is initially populated from Serving RCDTS or from the Service Provider RCDTS when different. For split enrollments, the Testing RCDTS code is initially assigned using the Serving RCDTS code with the highest Percent of Day Attended; if PDA values tie, Home is used unless the Serving RCDTS is a category 9 entity, in which case Home is used regardless. The district should coordinate with the serving school or service provider and edit Testing RCDTS accordingly.

How do schools update Test Format for paper accommodations for ACT + Science + Writing?

After logging into SIS and selecting Assessment > Pre-ID > ACT/PreACT Secure, schools can edit the Testing RCDTS code and update the Test Format. For ACT + Science + Writing only, change Test Format from Online to Paper if a student needs a paper format accommodation. Questions about using a paper format can be sent to assessment@isbe.net.

When must participation be confirmed in ACT Now, and when does ISBE transmit student registration files?

Schools must confirm participation separately in ACT Now to access and test students. ACT + Science + Writing participation must be confirmed between Nov 9, 2026 and Feb 12, 2027, while PreACT Secure and PreACT 9 Secure must be confirmed between Jan 4, 2027 and Mar 26, 2027. ISBE transmits the first student registration file to ACT Now on Jan 13, 2027 after 4:00 p.m., updates weekly on Fridays after 4:00 p.m. except Feb 19, 2027, and makes a final transmission scheduled for Apr 23, 2027.

Oct 10, 2026

Uploaded by Bulrr