Sen. Bill Cassidy opened a formal inquiry into freshman math placements, sending data requests to 35 selective institutions including Ivy League and STEM‑focused universities. Cassidy cited a University of California, San Diego report showing some first‑year students placed into math below middle‑school levels despite strong high‑school grades. The senator seeks placement data, explanations of assessment methods, details on remedial coursework and the role of standardized tests — due Feb. 5 — signaling potential federal scrutiny of higher‑education admissions standards and remediation practices.