(a) The state board of education shall provide the ACT college entrance exam and the three ACT workkeys assessments that are required to earn a national career readiness certificate to each student enrolled in grades 11 and 12, and the pre-ACT college entrance exam to each student enrolled in grade nine. No student shall be required to pay any fees or costs to take any such exam or assessments. The state board shall not be required to provide more than one exam and three assessments for each student. The state board of education may enter into any contracts that are necessary to promote statewide cost savings to administer such exams and assessments.

(b) The Kansas department of education and each school district shall annually publish on their websites the times, dates and locations of the pre-ACT college entrance exam, the ACT college entrance exam and the ACT workkeys assessments that are offered in Kansas and information for students on how to register for such exams or assessments.

(c) Participation in the pre-ACT college entrance exam, the ACT college entrance exam or the ACT workkeys assessment shall be optional. Nothing in this section shall be construed to require any student to participate in such exams or assessments.

(d) On or before the first day of each regular legislative session, the state board of education shall prepare and submit a report to the senate standing committee on education and the house standing committee or any successor committees on education that includes the aggregate exam and assessment data for all students who were provided the exams and assessments pursuant to this section.

(e) As used in this section, “student” means any person who is regularly enrolled in any public school or accredited nonpublic school located in Kansas.