ETS announced it will acquire ACT, positioning the testing and readiness companies to compete in a market facing declining participation in traditional standardized tests and rising demand for skills-based assessment. The acquisition combines ETS’s broader test portfolio—including Praxis—with ACT’s college and career-readiness platforms. ETS said the move is intended to create opportunities to align readiness products with emerging needs, including AI-supported assessment delivery and adaptations. ACT CEO Steve Tapp said joining ETS would allow ACT to scale its offerings within a broader readiness vision. ETS CEO Amit Sevak said the near-term administration of the ACT test would be “business as usual,” but that leadership discussions will likely shape future product roadmaps around long-term workforce needs. For admissions offices and state agencies that use ACT scores, the near-term operational message is stability, while the longer-term watch item is how ETS and ACT may redefine delivery, scoring approaches, and readiness assessments for both K-12 and college admissions.