Gov. Newsom and UC Faculty Discuss SAT/ACT Reinstatement

California Governor Gavin Newsom recently faced questions about whether he would support reinstating SAT/ACT requirements in light of concerns from over 3,000 faculty members of the University of California (UC). During a press event marking the new school year, Newsom was asked to respond to an open letter released in May, highlighting issues with incoming students’ math preparedness.

A report from UC San Diego revealed that approximately one in eight incoming students did not meet high school math standards, and one in twelve fell short of middle school standards. This situation arose after the UC Board of Regents’ decision in 2020 to remove SAT and ACT requirements from admissions.

Newsom refrained from making a definitive statement, saying, “We all have our own perspective” on SAT requirements and emphasized the need for more data to reach a conclusive decision.

“It’s an important discussion and debate. I’m open to argument, interested in evidence,” Newsom stated. “Show me the data. I have feelings about this, and there are anecdotes, but data is crucial,” he continued.

The governor confirmed ongoing discussions with the UC president, James B. Milliken, and the board, while expressing that more information is needed before making a final determination. He noted, “The data needs to bear out the ultimate determination on this, but there’s some contra-data suggesting different outcomes.”

Following the release of the open letter, the UC announced a review of its standardized testing policy. Milliken assured that the Board of Regents and University leadership prioritize college preparedness. He stated that the UC Academic Senate proposed a comprehensive, data-driven review to reinforce student readiness and success.

A Berkeley mathematics professor recently expressed concerns over the unpreparedness of students entering college, attributing it to the “test-blind” policies. In a statement, Professor Zvezdelina Stankova noted substantial gaps in mathematics knowledge among students, often requiring basic lessons during office hours.

Additionally, Karajean Hyde, co-director of the UC Irvine Math Project, emphasized the need for objective benchmarks to restore academic standards. “We need some objective measures alongside the complete picture,” Hyde shared, stressing the role of standardized testing in maintaining consistent academic levels.

Thousands of UC professors advocate for reinstating standardized testing, asserting that its absence has led to a decline in academic readiness.