https://paloaltoonline.com/blogs/p/print/2020/09/01/judge-rules-ucs-cannot-use-satact-in-admissions-this-year

Local Blogs

Judge Rules UC's Cannot use SAT/ACT in Admissions This Year

Alameda Superior Court Judge Brad Seligman today issued a preliminary injunction preventing the UC's from using test scores in determining admission or scholarship decisions in the upcoming admissions cycle because they discrimination against students with learning and physical disabilities who have been unable to take either test.

The judge ruled that students with disabilities, "faced barriers greatly exacerbated by the Covid-19 epidemic," that other students do not face. Specifically, because of Covid-19 there were a limited number of test sites that provide accommodations and limited access to school counselors to request accommodations for students with disabilities.

The effect of the ruling will mean that all UC campuses will be test blind and will not use standardized test scores in evaluating students' applications or scholarships. Under the UC system in place until this morning, students who submitted test scores to test-optional UCs, would have their test scores taken into account during the UCs "second look," practice of re-examining certain students' applications. Tests could also provide a “plus factor" for test submitting students. This is prevented from occurring in this admissions cycle.