California’s public university system is about to take a hard look at its decision to ban SAT and ACT tests from admissions. That’s because 1,400 professors have sounded the alarm: they’re finding they need to re-teach middle school math to students.
UC President’s Response
UC President James B. Milliken announced a data-driven review of admissions testing last Thursday. This move is a direct response to the concerns raised by faculty members about the effectiveness of their new policy. The University of California (UC) aims to assess whether its decision to ditch standardized testing is actually harming students.
It’s not just about math skills. The professors warn that the policy change has exposed severe gaps in students’ preparation. These gaps are manifesting in the form of difficulties with algebra and geometry. Faculty members are worried that students are ill-prepared for college-level coursework, and that this will have long-term consequences for their academic success and career prospects.
Reviewing the Policy
The data-driven review is expected to take several months to complete. It will involve analyzing student performance data, as well as conducting research on the effectiveness of alternative admissions methods. The UC will also consult with experts in education and testing to get a more nuanced understanding of the issue.
What this means: the ban on standardized testing may be on shaky ground. The review could lead to a re-evaluation of the policy, potentially opening the door for the return of SAT and ACT scores as a factor in admissions decisions. The move would be a significant shift for the UC system, which has been at the forefront of efforts to move away from standardized testing.
Faculty Concerns
The concerns raised by faculty members are not just about math. They also emphasize the need for more robust support systems to help students who are falling behind. Many professors are calling for the UC to develop more effective interventions to address the gaps in students’ knowledge and skills.
It remains to be seen how the review will proceed and what conclusions the UC will draw from its analysis. One thing is certain, however: the faculty members who raised the alarm have sparked a critical conversation about the role of standardized testing in college admissions.
