More than 500 University of California professors signed an open letter warning of a severe lack of math skills among incoming college students. Instructors report having to re-teach middle school mathematics while also covering college-level material needed for sciences, engineering, economics, and other quantitative fields. The widening gap between underprepared and well-prepared students is said to polarize courses, reducing the foundation available to many students and making advanced STEM teaching harder. The letter calls for the University of California Board of Regents to reinstate standardized testing requirements. Professors attribute the problem to a 2020 decision to stop requiring SAT and ACT scores after legal challenges argued the tests were racist and after court actions involving rejected applicants.
"“We now observe preparation gaps so severe that instructors must re-teach middle school mathematics while simultaneously teaching the material students need for sciences, engineering, economics and other quantitatively demanding fields,” the letter read."
"“Furthermore, the widening spread between underprepared and well-prepared students creates polarized courses, weakening the foundation available to many students and making it harder to teach at the level required for advanced STEM work,” the professors continued."
"“UC is increasingly unable to provide students with the education needed to become leaders in California's scientific, technological and economic future.”"
"The professors blamed a 2020 vote by the University of California Board of Regents to stop requiring SAT and ACT scores in admissions after lawyers representing low-income students argued the metrics were “racist.” The system had been placed under a court injunction after rejected students sued, claiming the standardized tests unfairly privileged wealthier students with access to test prep that other students can"
Read at California Post
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