Assembly Concurrent Resolution
No. 64
CHAPTER 148
Relative to postsecondary education.
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Filed with
Secretary of State
September 11, 2019.
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LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 64, McCarty.
California State University and University of California: SAT and ACT.
This measure would request the Trustees of the California State University and the Regents of the University of California to conduct a study on the usefulness, effectiveness, and need for the SAT and ACT to determine student admissions, and would provide that the study should include evaluation of specified admissions eligibility and qualifications measures and testing issues. The measure would also provide that the study should include recommendations
and, if determined necessary, a plan for phasing out the use of the SAT and ACT as a basis for admission.
Digest Key
Fiscal Committee:
YES WHEREAS, The SAT tests reward costly test preparation rather than hard work and merit; and
WHEREAS, Wealthier students tend to do, on average, 400 points better than low-income students on the SAT; and
WHEREAS, Male students tend to receive much higher SAT math scores than female students, and slightly higher SAT writing scores than female students; and
WHEREAS, Students who generally do well in classes may test poorly in stressful conditions, such as testing to determine college entry; and
WHEREAS, The SAT emphasizes speed, quick recall, and time management over subject matter knowledge; and
WHEREAS, On average, White and Asian students do better than Black and Hispanic students; now, therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Trustees of the California State University and the Regents of the University of California are requested to conduct a study on the usefulness, effectiveness, and need for the SAT and ACT to determine student admissions; and be it further
Resolved, That the study should include, but not be limited to, evaluation of norm-referenced versus criterion-referenced tests, test outcomes gaps based on ethnicity or income, test anxiety, test bias, and use of other multiple measures to determine student eligibility and qualifications such as Advanced Placement test results, International Baccalaureate (IB) test results, IB Diploma Programme completion, extracurricular activities, personal essays, teacher recommendations, submissions of creative works, and cumulative grade point average; and be it further
Resolved, That the study should additionally include recommendations and, if determined necessary, a plan for phasing out the use of the SAT and ACT as a basis for admission; and be it further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of this resolution to the Trustees of the California State University, to the Regents of the University of California, and to the author for appropriate distribution.