At Bay View High School, this spring’s ACT period once again overlaps with the holy month of Ramadan, creating challenges for students who will take the high-stakes exam while fasting.

For the third consecutive year, the ACT testing window has fallen during Ramadan, a time when Muslim students abstain from food and drink from dawn to sunset. While Ramadan is a sacred month of reflection, prayer, and community, it can also bring physical fatigue that makes concentration more difficult, especially during lengthy standardized tests like the ACT.

 “It’s clear that students’ energy level changes during Ramadan,” said Ms. Kelli Hook, an ESL teacher at Bay View High School. “They are often quiet, tired, and put their heads down. Students who usually participate a lot in class tend to be more reserved, and that can affect their performance on tests like the ACT.” Ms. Hook added that fasting students have altered sleep schedules, waking up early in the morning to eat and pray, and staying up late to break their fast and worship. “That means they have less time and energy to study,” she said. 

While the overlap has sparked concern among staff and students, adjusting the ACT schedule is far from simple. The exam is administered nationally and must adhere to strict state and district testing windows. 

“This year’s test window overlaps with Ramadan again, which is from February 17 to March 19, right in the middle of Ramadan,” explained Bay View High School Testing Coordinator Mrs. Jeanie Simmert. “Scheduling is more complicated than people realize. We have to work within the framework set by the state and the ACT Company.” 

Mrs. Simmert emphasized that the school is striving to support fasting students in many ways. “Teachers are very understanding,”  she noted. “They know students might be tired or need more make-up time for missing work, and they are flexible. No one wants students to be penalized for observing their faith.” 

Students have shown concern about taking the ACT during the regular school day when the class bells and announcements can be distracting. “We have 900 or more students who need to go to their classes, so we couldn’t stop the bell,” Mrs. Simmert said. “However, we could stop the announcements to minimize disruptions.” 

Some suggested moving testing to a different location, but Simmert indicated that changing location and schedule also presents challenges.  “We’ve discussed alternatives like using the library across the street, but that building no longer belongs to us. And since students test at different times, moving them back and forth isn’t realistic.” 

Other solutions to the testing concern, such as allowing weekend testing or testing during breaks, are also not feasible. “We can’t move the ACT during breaks because staff aren’t available on those days.” 

According to Chris Bucher from the Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction (DPI), there is some flexibility with assessments being administered. School districts in Wisconsin can test students anytime within the test windows, and can also accommodate Muslim students during Ramadan. “Schools should discuss with students and families whether they prefer testing during or after Ramadan,” Butcher said.

 In 2026, schools will have flexibility with online testing, which allows districts to choose between online and paper testing formats. MPS will administer its online ACT on March 11th, despite additional dates being available on March 24 and April 7 to administer the online test. 

“The DPI considers religious holidays and important events when determining the annual test schedules to ensure students can equitably participate in the assessment regardless of their faith background,” Bucher explained.  

DPI also reviews the process of the ACT, PreACT, and Forward Exam. They also review the statistical criteria for selecting test questions. “The DPI has dedicated assessment staff that work directly with districts to provide technical assistance and communicate weekly with the District Assessment Coordinator (DAC) in each district through an emailed DAC Digest.”  Bucher also stated, “We recommend that the districts keep in mind cultural events, holidays, and activities of students and their families when scheduling the assessment.” An example the DPI gave is that schools should consider providing testing date options outside the fasting period during Ramadan. 

How can the district, DPI, and other board members do something to overcome these barriers for Muslim students to take the ACT during Ramadan? Jill Waltersdorf, Milwaukee Public Schools assessment specialist, said the ACT window set for each state is determined in the spring. When selecting the date for the MPS district. “We take into account Ramadan, spring break, and the need to provide opportunities for make-up testing. Despite those considerations, the district date may sometimes coincide with Ramadan due to these scheduling factors.” The assessment office informs schools that for those students who are unable to test on the district date for any reason, such as Ramadan or religious holidays, they have the opportunity to complete a make-up test. They encourage schools to use Windows Two and three for ACT make-up testing after Ramadan, which will be offered online to provide greater flexibility. According to DPI, Muslim students could take advantage of paper testing; however, the district has stated that the paper test option is not available because “Online testing allows students to complete the assessment throughout all testing windows, whereas paper testing must be completed within a specific testing window and requires the reordering of materials. 

After gathering information from DPI, the district, Bay View High School test coordinator, and the principal, it appears that  Muslim students have these two options: they can take the test during the regular district test day on March 11th, or they can take the test on a make-up day after Ramadan.

 

Many Muslim students expressed frustration but also hope that awareness will bring changes. “I worry that I won’t be able to focus after the first few hours,” said Muna Albdullahi Mohamed, a Bay View High School junior. “ After half of the day, that’s when I start to feel tired.” 

Another student, who will also be fasting during Ramadan, had a similar concern: “My friends told me how hard it was for her to take the ACT while fasting,” said Arafah Begum Yusof, “I can already imagine how challenging it will be this year for me.”

Several students suggested potential solutions, such as allowing fasting students to split the test over two days or rescheduling the test after Ramadan. “Even a small adjustment could make a big difference,” Muhammad Haysham Shamshu Alam said.

To prepare, Abdinajib Abdullahi Mohamed, a student at Bay View High School, is turning to online resources like IXL skills practice to build confidence before test day.

Mr. Jeffrey Gaddis, Principal of Bay View High School, acknowledged the ongoing scheduling issues and said the school is working to be more proactive. “When staff remind me of the Ramadan date, and I look into the ACT schedule to see if they are overlapping, we try to plan accordingly so all students can take their ACT,” he said. “This is the third time it’s happened, so we are planning to do things a little differently.” The principal added that the school is hoping to strengthen communication with Muslim students’ families this year. “We are considering sending out informational videos or holding meetings with parents to explain what the ACT is and how we’re supporting students during Ramadan,” he said.

While Bay View High School cannot change the national ACT schedule, both teachers and administrators agree that more awareness can help ease the burden on fasting students.

“Understanding what students are experiencing during Ramadan is key,” Ms. Hook said. “ We cannot control the calendar, but we can control how we support them.”

As the ACT window approaches, Bay View’s Muslim students are balancing faith and academics,  a test of endurance in more ways than one.