University of California Hits Brakes on Standardized Testing Review— As Math Scores Continue to Plummet

AP Photo/Ty Wright

As if those of us who have long believed California is no longer the Golden State needed even more proof that the Democrat stronghold is incapable—and has zero interest—in righting its many "progressive" wrongs against the good people of the state, here we go.

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The University of California’s Academic Senate (UCAS) has voted to rescind its promised review of standardized testing admissions — despite the reality that math skills among the state's graduating high school students continue their shocking decline.

As my colleague Becky Noble reported in late May, even California kindergartners are being indoctrinated in the ways of the Left, rather than being taught the basics of math and other required learning skills.

As Noble reported, hundreds of faculty members across the University of California system in late May took the unusual step — particularly for California—of publicly admitting what has become increasingly obvious: something has not only gone terribly wrong; it also continues to get even worse. 

In an open letter, more than 550 professors in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics urged university leadership to reinstate standardized math testing in admissions. 

In perhaps the most glaring example, many college instructors are no longer teaching at the college level, but instead are forced to revisit material typically covered in middle school. 


READ MORECA University Professors Discover Students Can't Do Basic Math, Demand Return of Standardized Tests


The faculty letter called for reinstating the SAT/ACT math requirement for applicants to STEM majors beginning with the 2027 admissions cycle. Their concerns are hardly unfounded. 

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A November 2025 University of California San Diego study found that, in just five years, the number of students entering college with math skills below the high school level increased nearly thirtyfold. Even more alarming, nearly 70 percent of those students demonstrated math proficiency below middle school level.

Now Comes the Bad Part, Followed by the Worst Part

As reported by the Los Angeles Times on Monday, after initially acquiescing to the professors' letter and agreeing on July 10 to review a return to standardized testing requirements, the UCAS abruptly hit the brakes on the promised review. 

Why? Your guess is as good as mine, but here's the group's "official" reason (excuse):

After published reports emerged today (July 13) that the University of California’s Academic Senate voted on July 10 to rescind its review of standardized testing admissions, Ahmet Palazoglu, the University of California’s Academic Senate Chair, issued the following statement:

“The Academic Senate is not rescinding its commitment to a comprehensive review of standardized testing in admissions. Recognizing the significance of this issue, the Academic Senate is revising its timeline while ensuring the forthcoming review is thorough, evidence-based and informed by faculty expertise.”

Raise your hand if you think the above excuse is a crock of California crap.

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Think about it.

When your state's university freshmen demonstrate math skills below middle school level, what's to think about? How much more "thorough evidence" do you need? And the part about "faculty expertise" made me laugh out loud. 

Memo to the UCAS:

Your "faculty expertise" is exactly what landed your university smack-dab in the middle of what should be an embarrassing mess. So what's to be further reviewed? To make sure that you don't undo your intentional "soft bigotry of low expectations" dumpster fire? 

As California—along with other Democrat-controlled states—intentionally indoctrinates what it hopes will become future Democrat voters, its miserably failed public education system all but ensures that the state's college graduates will be incapable of competing in the skilled work force after they graduate—assuming they do in fact graduate. 

Meanwhile, the no-longer-Golden State's failed song plays on.

Note: The mainstream media isn't interested in the facts; they're only interested in attacking the president and propping up the Left. Help us continue to bring you the facts by supporting our truth-seeking journalism today.

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