Thousands of high schoolers are preparing for this year’s A.C.T. as Illinois lawmakers consider whether to pay for the college readiness exam.  The DeKalb Daily Chronicle reports schools feel “caught in the middle” of the debate that could save Illinois millions if test costs are passed along to students.  Joe Burgess is superintendent of Genoa-Kingston School District 424.  He says “the state is devaluing the A.C.T. while colleges see value in it.”  Nearly 143,000 Illinois juniors took the A.C.T. last year, which is free and given to students in April.  State education officials are considering paying only fees for low-income students.