EXPLORE may go away for good in a few years but hopefully there will be a new test (for 3rd to 6th grade level) before the kids are old enough to take SAT/ACT
Link to ACT's current webpage on the Explore test:
http://www.act.org/products/k-12-act-explore/. Looks like the replacement test will be Aspire, a longitudinal test for students in grade 3 through grade 8.
I have not seen Aspire to be a component of any Talent search (CTY, TIP, NUMAT) yet and not on DYS list.
Well, this is the 1st year of implementing and it may be something like SCAT for CTY. 2nd grader taking 4th grade Aspire, etc....Hopefully, it will work out and give us low cost option for achievement testing.
