by Steve Tapp, ACT CEO
"The ability to evolve is a natural part of growth."
When we talk about the concept of evolution, it can feel like an energizing word — full of promise, momentum, and possibility. But it can also bring up feelings of uncertainty and understandably raise some questions. That reaction is natural. For ACT, staying proactive and connected to our industry at large is critical as we adapt and make changes that align with the needs of our customers and partners.
One of the things that drew me to ACT is our history of remaining true to our purpose while constantly meeting the changing needs of the educators and learners we serve. As an ACT board member and now CEO, I’ve witnessed how our ability and commitment to listen and evolve have consistently benefited students, educators, and the workforce. I see this as an extraordinary advantage, and it positions us well for future growth — pairing our experience and expertise with customer feedback to continually improve and streamline our services.
As expectations across the K-career pathways continue to shift, so must the tools and insights that support learners. ACT is evolving to help educators better measure college and career readiness and to ensure actionable data is easier to access, understand, and apply.
What does this mean for customers we serve every day?
At its core, any changes we undertake are about serving our core mission and remaining customer focused. It’s a big-picture effort designed to enhance our solutions, simplify processes, strengthen user experiences, and ensure ACT is an effective long-term ally to our customers. This is not change for change’s sake. It’s change with purpose.
We understand that for our customers to be successful in their work, we must be efficient and effective in ours. This is something we are actively addressing.
In this next phase of growth, we aim to simplify the customer experience and how customers interact with ACT. By taking a hard look at our internal processes and implementing feedback from our trusted partners, we will be focused on delivering our solutions more efficiently, reliably, and clearly — so our customers can focus on what matters most: leveraging the data from ACT to drive meaningful outcomes. When products and systems are more aligned, customers can more easily access the data they need and spend more time on meaningful work. When processes are clear and connected, customers feel supported. And ultimately, when those things come together, learners benefit - which is why we’re all here in the first place.
And while technology certainly plays a key role in this process, it's just one aspect of our evolution. Ultimately, it's about making our customer and partner experiences more intuitive, empowering, and future-ready.
Why Now?
ACT has a strong foundation, built by talented mission-driven people using strong systems that have carried us far. This transformation isn’t a critique of that past; it’s an acknowledgment that as the educational and social landscapes continue to evolve, we must be flexible and we need a more connected, scalable, and user-friendly approach moving forward.
What to Expect
We’re not just upgrading systems and solutions. We’re upgrading how we show up for our customers and for the learners who count on us.
We understand both the scope of work ahead and the responsibility that comes with it. This will be a thoughtful, deliberate change, and we are confident it will make a meaningful difference for all our key stakeholders.
