Yes she should take it because if her mind changes, if she decides to apply elsewhere, you might need it. While other schools will be test optional and we don’t know her overall background, what if she wanted to apply to a Middlebury or Vassar or chase the Johnson Scholarship at W&L. Thoughts change, especially as you go through the year and she learns about other schools.
If you are worried about prep time, you could always take it or the ACT without ore. some kids kick butt no studying.
She can take it in the Spring so then no reason to wreck the summer.
Could you do without it - yes. I don’t know her grades, rigor and rank but why not see if it adds value. Many private and OOS public colleges are extremely cost effective and you never know when her thoughts change.
I wouldn’t fret though…even without an SAT/ACT most schools are test optional and then the UCs are blind. But worst case is you waste a few bucks and hours. But if you don’t, I wouldn’t lose sleep. Good luck.
It won’t let me link but Google niche and environmental science and you’ll get one ranking which includes universities and LACs together…might be of interest to your daughter.
Anyway, if she’s open to OOS but is applying to the UCs solely for cost, with her stats shared, we could find u other affordable opportunities.