Gov. Gavin Newsom of California recently addressed questions about whether he would support reinstating SAT and ACT requirements. Over 3,000 University of California faculty members have raised concerns regarding student preparedness in math. Newsom stated he wanted more data before making a decision.
During a recent press event, Newsom responded to questions regarding an open letter from UC faculty members released earlier this year. The letter expressed worries about incoming students’ readiness in math, highlighting a UC San Diego report that found approximately one in eight students fell below high school math standards. Furthermore, one in twelve students failed to meet middle school standards. These findings emerged after the UC Board of Regents voted in 2020 to eliminate SAT and ACT requirements in admissions decisions.
Newsom expressed his openness to the continuing debate, stating, “I’m interested in evidence and open to argument. Viewpoints vary, but I want concrete data.” He noted his discussions with UC President James B. Milliken and the board will continue as more data becomes available.
The UC announced a comprehensive review of its standardized testing policy following the letter’s publication. Milliken assured that college preparedness is a priority and the UC Academic Senate has proposed a data-driven review to assess student readiness.
A Berkeley mathematics professor recently expressed concern over students’ lack of preparedness, attributing this to “test-blind” policies. Professor Zvezdelina Stankova shared her observations, stating that often students lag several years behind in math proficiency, resulting in remedial lessons rather than discussions on advanced topics.
Karajean Hyde, co-director of the UC Irvine Math Project, emphasized the need for objective benchmarks as part of academic assessments. Hyde stated that standardized testing provides a measure to ensure academic standards remain consistent.
Thousands of University of California professors have advocated for reinstating standardized testing, warning that its removal undermines student preparedness.