Sen. Bill Cassidy opened a formal inquiry into college-level math readiness, sending letters to 35 selective institutions requesting math-placement data from fall 2019 through fall 2025. The probe follows a University of California, San Diego report showing a steep rise in incoming freshmen needing remedial math. Cassidy asked universities to detail placement standards, the math courses referenced, and whether SAT/ACT or other math tests are required for admission. The letters explicitly link remediation trends to changes in standardized-testing policies and pandemic-era learning disruptions. The inquiry escalates a national debate over K–12 preparation, test-optional admissions, and higher-education remediation costs. Institutions named in the request now face pressure to justify placement policies and to quantify how preparation gaps affect course completions and degree progression.
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