Summary#
SCR-198, “University of California: admissions: standardized tests,” is a California Senate concurrent resolution. It would express the Legislature’s support for the University of California Regents restoring a requirement to consider SAT, ACT, or another nationally recognized standardized test in admissions; its stated goal is to support assessment of applicants’ academic readiness.
- The resolution expresses support but does not require the Regents to change admissions policy.
- It does not amend an existing law or set a test, score threshold, applicant group, or start date.
- It directs the Senate Secretary to send copies of the resolution to its author for distribution.
- The resolution is introduced and has not become law.
What it means for you#
- UC applicants: This resolution would not itself change admissions requirements. Any test requirement would depend on a separate decision by the Regents.
- UC Regents and campuses: The resolution states the Legislature’s position, but does not create a duty, process, or deadline for the Regents to act.
- California residents and taxpayers: The text does not create a new service, benefit, fee, or tax.
Money#
No publicly available information on costs is provided.
- The resolution does not set aside money or specify staffing or other costs.
What is unclear#
- If the Regents acted, which test or test components would count, and what scores would be required.
- Which applicants or programs would be covered, and when a policy change might start.
- How test results would be used alongside grades and other admissions factors.
- The resolution cites findings about UC San Diego, but does not establish whether those findings apply across the UC system.
Case for#
- A possible argument for the resolution is that test scores could offer a common measure when high school courses, grading, and educational opportunities vary.
- The resolution says a test could help identify preparation gaps that grades may not show and help campuses identify students who need support.
- It gives weight to faculty members’ stated concerns about students’ preparation for university coursework.
Case against#
- The resolution does not explain how a test requirement would account for differences in applicants’ access to test preparation or educational opportunities.
- It does not set rules for how scores would affect admission decisions, leaving the details to any later Regents’ action.
- Its specific evidence about preparation gaps is from UC San Diego; the text does not show whether the same pattern holds across all UC campuses or fields of study.