Latest news with #ClassicLearningTest
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Texas university argues college admissions policies are 'unjust,' touts new 'meritocratic admissions' policy
The University of Austin in Texas (UATX) believes college admissions are "unjust," so the school is going to do something about it. "What we've done is create the most meritocratic admissions policy in the country," UATX Dean Ben Crocker told Fox News Digital. He continued, "We do not want high school seniors to be performing in their essays unpacking a vast list of shallow co-curriculars and extracurriculars." UATX announced on Monday that students who score over a 1460 on the SAT, over a 33 on the ACT or over a 105 on the Classic Learning Test (CLT) are automatically admitted to the university, "pending basic eligibility and an integrity check." The Ohio State University 'Sunsets' Offices Amid Ongoing Review Of Diversity, Equity And Inclusion Work The UATX explained further that students who perform below that threshold will be evaluated on test scores along with Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam results, and "three verifiable achievements that are each described in a single sentence." The university is currently unaccredited. It was founded in 2021 by a group of academics and notable figures, including former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss, after they raised concerns about the decline of free speech across college campuses. Read On The Fox News App While its inaugural students are not eligible for federal financial aid, the university has had significant support from private donors, including billionaire Bill Ackman and activist Harlan Crow, allowing it to offer free tuition to its first cohort. "We just want to know, are you intelligent? Are you brilliant? And are you committed to building a great university with us? Our criteria is very simple. We're not interested in whether you're the right gender, the right race, the right ethnicity, it is merit first for us," Crocker said. Ag Bondi Dismisses Dei Lawsuits Brought Against Police, Fire Departments Under Biden Administration Crocker also cited the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, rejecting the use of race as a factor in college admissions as a violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. "Chief Justice Roberts, in his majority opinion, said, if we're going to eliminate racial discrimination, then we have to eliminate all of it. He said all of it. But what we've seen since that decision was handed down is that our elite universities have not," Crocker added. In the wake of the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action as well as President Donald Trump's crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many universities abandoned DEI programs. Furthermore, some universities reinstated requirements for undergraduate applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores after dropping the testing requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some universities had previously claimed that standardized tests raised concerns about inequality in higher education. "We're trying to instigate a revolution in American higher education," Crocker told Fox News Digital. "It's an American revolution in the sense that we see it as a return to the way things ought to be. We're not trying to radically reinvent everything, but we are trying to take what's best about education in the United States: meritocracy, excellence, the sense that you need to build something for the good of the country."Original article source: Texas university argues college admissions policies are 'unjust,' touts new 'meritocratic admissions' policy
Fox News
04-04-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Texas university argues college admissions policies are 'unjust,' touts new 'meritocratic admissions' policy
The University of Austin in Texas (UATX) believes college admissions are "unjust," so the school is going to do something about it. "What we've done is create the most meritocratic admissions policy in the country," UATX Dean Ben Crocker told Fox News Digital. He continued, "We do not want high school seniors to be performing in their essays unpacking a vast list of shallow co-curriculars and extracurriculars." UATX announced on Monday that students who score over a 1460 on the SAT, over a 33 on the ACT or over a 105 on the Classic Learning Test (CLT) are automatically admitted to the university, "pending basic eligibility and an integrity check." The UATX explained further that students who perform below that threshold will be evaluated on test scores along with Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate (IB) exam results, and "three verifiable achievements that are each described in a single sentence." The university is currently unaccredited. It was founded in 2021 by a group of academics and notable figures, including former New York Times journalist Bari Weiss, after they raised concerns about the decline of free speech across college campuses. While its inaugural students are not eligible for federal financial aid, the university has had significant support from private donors, including billionaire Bill Ackman and activist Harlan Crow, allowing it to offer free tuition to its first cohort. "We just want to know, are you intelligent? Are you brilliant? And are you committed to building a great university with us? Our criteria is very simple. We're not interested in whether you're the right gender, the right race, the right ethnicity, it is merit first for us," Crocker said. Crocker also cited the U.S. Supreme Court ruling on affirmative action, rejecting the use of race as a factor in college admissions as a violation of the 14th Amendment's Equal Protection Clause. "Chief Justice Roberts, in his majority opinion, said, if we're going to eliminate racial discrimination, then we have to eliminate all of it. He said all of it. But what we've seen since that decision was handed down is that our elite universities have not," Crocker added. In the wake of the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action as well as President Donald Trump's crackdown on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), many universities abandoned DEI programs. Furthermore, some universities reinstated requirements for undergraduate applicants to submit SAT or ACT scores after dropping the testing requirement during the COVID-19 pandemic. Some universities had previously claimed that standardized tests raised concerns about inequality in higher education. "We're trying to instigate a revolution in American higher education," Crocker told Fox News Digital. "It's an American revolution in the sense that we see it as a return to the way things ought to be. We're not trying to radically reinvent everything, but we are trying to take what's best about education in the United States: meritocracy, excellence, the sense that you need to build something for the good of the country."
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
UATX to offer automatic admissions based on test scores, citing 'unjust' national model
Denouncing the U.S. college admissions system as biased, broken and "unjust," Austin's newest higher education institution — a private startup-inspired university serving its first class of undergraduates this year — will now automatically admit candidates based on test scores. The University of Austin's automatic admissions threshold, a "Merit-First Admissions" policy announced Monday, will automatically admit applicants who score greater or equal to 1460 on the SAT, 33 on the ACT, or 105 on the CLT (Classic Learning Test) ― roughly the top 5% of test takers, Maggie Kelly, communications and admissions manager for the self-styled UATX, said in written responses to the American-Statesman's questions. The scores are comparable to the neighboring University of Texas, as well as Georgetown University and the University of Michigan, according to College Simply, an online tool that helps students evaluate their admissions potential. As demand to attend elite U.S. institutions has swelled in the last few decades, college admissions processes have ballooned to a "holistic review," which include evaluations of essays, extracurricular activities and letters of recommendation in addition to scores and grade-point averages. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2023 barred race-conscious admissions, also known as affirmative action, ruling in favor of defendants who argued that it discriminated against white and Asian students, but the court still allowed colleges to take a student's lived experience into consideration. The University of Austin ― made famous for its rejection of current "illiberalism and censoriousness" in higher education and promising to lead an institution focused on academics, pursuit of truth and civic values — said in a post on X that the system of admissions under which other colleges operate "rewards manipulation, not merit." "We believe this is the most meritocratic and transparent admissions policy in the country," Kelly said. "There's no better time to offer students a serious alternative to the increasingly performative college admissions process." Students who are auto-admitted into UATX must still meet basic eligibility standards and an integrity check. The integrity check involves one letter of recommendation, disclosing disciplinary or criminal histories to ensure "each admitted student meets our high standards, including honesty, responsibility, and readiness." A final high school transcript or GED will also be required to show completion of primary education, but the GPA is not factored into admission decisions, UATX's webpage states. If students don't reach the scores outlined by UATX, they will be evaluated on test scores, advanced placement and International Baccalaureate test scores and three "verifiable achievements, each described in a single sentence." The university has been "inundated" with messages from relieved students and parents, Kelly said, adding that the university is confident in its capacity planning and doesn't anticipate capacity to be an issue. "UATX isn't for everyone — and that's the point. We're building something rigorous and real for students who are ready to be challenged in small seminars and without grade inflation," Kelly said. Automatic admission isn't new to Texas. Under state law, public universities in the state automatically admit the top 10% of Texas high school graduates with the exception of UT, which has an automatic admissions rate of the top 6%, though it will be lowered in fall 2026 to 5% due to rising demand. Additionally, UT-Austin removed its test optional policy last year, citing data that shows test scores are a "proven differentiator" in identifying the strongest academic potential and who could benefit from more support, and 90% of students took a college admissions exam before the change in policy anyway. The Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board in fall launched a "Direct Admissions" initiative to let students self-report their grade-point average and standardized test scores and see which of the state's 31 public universities that opted in will accept them. More: Texas launches tool allows high schooler students to see which colleges can accept them But proponents of holistic admissions say that relying on test scores boosts prospects for privileged students while slighting historically marginalized students who lack the same access to resources. A Harvard study in 2019 found that test scores should be contextualized with socioeconomic status, as wealthier students benefit from access to better tutoring in or out of school and can afford to take the test multiple times. Another Harvard paper in 2023 found that students with families in the top 1% of wealth were 13% more likely than low-income students to score a 1300 or higher on the SAT test. Kelly said holistic admissions can also disadvantage low-income students who cannot afford or access extracurriculars or college application coaching. "Every student deserves to be evaluated as an individual," Kelly said. "By removing essays, GPA, and padded activities, we eliminate much of the performance theater and give all students a shorter, meritocratic, transparent path." UATX is not an accredited institution, but it's in the process of becoming accredited, and it received permission by the state's Higher Education Coordinating Board in 2023 to grant degrees. The new institution has promised free tuition to its current class and its class of 2029, calling students courageous "founders" helping them pave an alternative way forward for higher education at-large. Users on X praised the UATX decision, with some saying it will remove stress for their children and "let kids be kids." In a video on social media, UATX criticizes college admissions as performative, and it states that its application only takes 7 minutes. UATX admissions applications for the fall semester will close April 15, and students can apply for free. "We care about two things: Intelligence and courage," UATX's post said. "College admission should be earned—not inherited, bought, or gamed. At UATX, your merit earns you a place—and full tuition scholarship." This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Rejecting 'holistic' admissions, UATX to auto-admit class per SAT, ACT
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida's Classic Learning Test adoption fuels national testing battle
The big story: The world of student testing is growing testy, in large part owing to Florida. After Florida lawmakers authorized the widespread use of the Classic Learning Test as a college entrance exam alternative in 2023, the assessment previously limited to students in religious schools jumped dramatically. Though tiny compared to the SAT and ACT, the CLT could threaten the giants if it wins approval in other states. As its leaders aim for added market share in Arkansas, Tennessee, Iowa and more, lobbyists for the other two testing companies are trying to kill it. Read more from Real Clear Investigations. Block scheduling: Pinellas County school board members backed away from challenges to course schedule changes at four high schools where students had raised complaints. College donation: Tampa entrepreneur Arnie Bellini's family made the largest gift in the history of the University of South Florida — $40 million to create a college of artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and computing. Immigration enforcement: Pinellas schools police chief Luke Williams explained his rationale for signing an application to participate in a federal immigration enforcement program. He told the school board he did not act unilaterally. President searches: University of South Florida president Rhea Law agreed to stay on the job longer as trustees seek her replacement. Principal discipline: A Leon County middle school principal resigned while under investigation for depositing money from a school fundraiser into her personal account and borrowing thousands of dollars from a teacher who said it wasn't repaid, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. The principal denied doing anything wrong. Security: State lawmakers advanced legislation to revise school security requirements, including mandates for locked or staffed doors whenever students are on campus, Florida Phoenix reports. Sex education: Broward County schools have no 'Plan B' for comprehensive sex education if the state does not approve the district's proposed curriculum, WTVJ reports. Start times: A bill to return the decision for what time high schools begin daily classes to local officials sailed through a second Senate committee, WUSF reports. Other school-related legislation that moved included a proposal to ban cellphone use throughout the school day and a measure to expand instruction in cursive. Superintendents: Marion County schools superintendent Diane Gullett announced she will leave the district in mid July, the Ocala Star-Banner reports. • The Broward County school board authorized its chairperson to begin negotiating a contract extension with superintendent Howard Hepburn, the Sun-Sentinel reports. Teacher shortage: The Bay County school board approved an agreement to bring international teachers to the district to fill vacant classrooms, WJHG reports. University civil rights investigations: The University of Tampa said it came under investigation for alleged antisemitism because of a 2023 altercation between two students that has since been resolved, WUSF reports. Officials from the University of Tampa and USF said their school condemn discrimination. Vouchers: A House subcommittee advanced a bill that would require private schools to provide more information to parents about the special education services they provide, Florida Politics reports. A Senate committee later approved a companion bill. Today in Tallahassee ... The House Careers and Workforce Subcommittee will consider three bills when it meets at 10:15 a.m. • The full Senate is set to take up SB 112 on children with developmental disabilities when it convenes at 3 p.m. • The House Combined Workgroup on Collegiate Name, Image and Likeness is scheduled to meet at 4:15 p.m. Don't miss a story. Here's a link to yesterday's roundup. Before you go ... It's amazing how fast Bad Bunny videos get millions of views.
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma House approves bills to accept Classic Learning Test, remove chronic absenteeism metric
Students walk in a line before entering the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25. House lawmakers approved two bills on Tuesday regarding student absenteeism and college entrance exams. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Education policies that passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday would remove chronic absenteeism from school evaluations and permit scores from a lesser-known college entrance exam to qualify for state-funded scholarships. Both measures now advance to the state Senate for consideration. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who leads the chamber's Education Committee, is the Senate author of both bills. House lawmakers spent almost an hour discussing legislation that would allow students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test when applying for the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship or the State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholars Program. House Bill 1096 ultimately passed 74-15 along party lines. State law currently requires students who attend a non-state-accredited school or who are homeschooled to make at least a 22 on the ACT to qualify for Oklahoma's Promise. Those attending a state-accredited school don't face a test score requirement, but they must earn at least a 2.5 grade point average. The regents' Academic Scholars Program awards applicants who are National Merit Scholars, Presidential Scholars or who scored at least in the 95th percentile on the ACT. House Bill 1096 would change the ACT requirement to allow top performers on any 'nationally norm-referenced college entrance exam.' Multiple House Democrats debated against the bill, contending the Classic Learning Test doesn't meet the same academic rigor and anti-cheating measures as the ACT. Only six small private universities in Oklahoma accept the test, which places an emphasis on classical literature and historic texts. The bill's author, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, said HB 1096 would expand access to college scholarships. The legislation specifies students would have to take the Classic Learning Test in person at a testing center, which eliminates the exam's at-home option. 'This is not harming anybody,' Hasenbeck said while debating on the House floor. 'It is only giving more students more opportunities.' Another measure would delete the student absenteeism metric from the Oklahoma School Report Cards, which assign an A-F grade to each public school. The bill would replace chronic absenteeism with an opportunity for bonus points for giving students more time in the classroom. HB 1412 passed with bipartisan support in a 74-15 vote. The instructional time metric would award a school more points on the report cards if it exceeds the state-mandated minimums of 165 school days or 1,080 classroom hours. Chronic absenteeism grades the number of students who have missed 10% or more of the school year. Republican and Democrat authors of the bill said it was unfair to evaluate schools based on whether parents make sure their children have good attendance. 'We can all agree that chronic absenteeism has not been a good measure for accountability of schools,' one of the authors, Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, said in a statement. 'We have worked to find a new measurement that is something within the district's control and can provide an incentive for schools to get students in front of our state's amazing teachers even more.' If the bill is signed into law, the U.S. Department of Education would have to approve the change to the state report cards. The measure would take effect for the 2025-26 school year if the federal government agrees. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
