Newsom declines to weigh in on professors' warning about math gaps in UC freshmen

Governor Gavin Newsom faced questions from reporters in Hayward about a petition signed by over 1,200 University of California professors, who allege a "severe" crisis of incoming freshmen lacking basic arithmetic, forcing instructors to simplify advanced courses. He responded that the anecdotes are insufficient and demanded the underlying data. A UC San Diego panel noted that students with sub-high-school math skills jumped from 30 in 2020 to 900 in 2025, a thirty-fold increase.

Faculty blame the 2020 elimination of SAT and ACT scores for the trend, arguing it has encouraged grade inflation. The University of California Board of Regents is slated to discuss possible testing reforms next year, with education officials noting alternative assessments are under review. Newsom used the occasion at Schafer Park Elementary to highlight statewide investments in community schools and a universal transitional kindergarten program that the governor’s office says saves families $14,000 annually. State data show only 37% of students met proficiency in math in 2025, and the governor expressed confidence that upcoming results will improve.