Harvard just announced they will not be requiring SAT or ACT scores for 2021 applicants. There is an article today in the Boston Globe.
The issue is accessing test sites for those without transportation, and also access to adequate guidance.
Many schools were test-optional before COVID, including some top schools https://www.fairtest.org/university/optional. However, they generally want scores for merit aid.
Harvard doesn’t offer merit aid. I imagine it will go back to requiring scores if/when COVID resolves.
Harvard has the admissions staff to do holistic admissions. Many large state universitites don’t and they may still want scores.
In my mind, essays and extracurriculars are influenced as much by socioeconomic status as standardized tests, but COVID is affecting EC’s for everyone, and access to testing sites really seems to be the motivator here, not permanent efforts to address bias in testing.