State of The Bay: Should the UCs Bring Back Standardized Testing?

For decades, standardized tests like the SAT and ACT were a central part of college admissions. In 2020, the University of California system became one of the nation's highest profile university networks to eliminate them, citing concerns about fairness and equity. Now, that decision is being revisited as hundreds of UC faculty recently signed an open letter in favor of reinstating the admissions tests, saying that their students have severe preparation gaps. UC Berkeley is leading this push and the supporters of the letter say testing can identify talented students who might otherwise be overlooked and provide admissions officers with another useful data point. Critics argue that the reason standardized tests were discontinued was because they disadvantage students from underrepresented and lower income backgrounds, and that high school achievement tells colleges far more. Today we hear from both sides. Frank Worrell, is professor of psychology at UC Berkeley School of Education, who has signed the petition to bring back standardized testing. Jessie Ryan, the president of the nonprofit Campaign for College Opportunity, wants to keep the SAT’s out of the admission process. They both spoke with State of The Bay’s host Ethan Elkind.