Senator Cassidy Initiates Probe into Freshman Math Readiness at Elite Institutions

U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy (R-LA), chair of the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee, has launched a formal inquiry into the math course placements of incoming freshmen at 35 of the nation's most selective colleges and universities. Announced on January 23, 2026, this investigation addresses a growing concern that high school graduates admitted to these elite schools are increasingly unprepared for college-level mathematics, despite boasting impressive grade point averages (GPAs). Cassidy's letters highlight a spillover effect from the ongoing crisis in K-12 mathematics education, where national proficiency rates have plummeted, forcing universities to place more students into remedial or pre-college math courses.

This development comes amid broader debates in higher education about admissions practices, particularly the shift to test-optional policies during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these policies aimed to broaden access, they have raised questions about their role in admitting students whose high school transcripts mask deficiencies in core skills like algebra and geometry. The inquiry seeks transparency on placement trends from fall 2019 through fall 2025, a period spanning pre-pandemic baselines to the present.

The K-12 Math Proficiency Crisis Fueling College Challenges

The roots of this issue trace back to elementary and secondary education, where the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)—often called the Nation's Report Card—reveals historic lows in math achievement. In the 2024 NAEP results, average math scores for eighth graders dropped to 196, the lowest in decades, down from 282 in 2019 for fourth graders and similar declines across grades 4, 8, and 12. Only 26% of eighth graders were proficient in math, compared to 34% pre-pandemic.

This decline, accelerated by school closures and learning loss during COVID-19, has created a pipeline of students entering college without foundational skills. Selective universities, which once drew from top-performing high school cohorts, now grapple with freshmen unable to handle calculus prerequisites. High school grade inflation exacerbates the mismatch: average GPAs have risen steadily, especially in math classes, even as standardized test scores and placement exam results lag.

Senator Cassidy's Stated Concerns and Call for Accountability

"The United States faces a crisis in student achievement at the K-12 level that has begun to spill over into higher education, especially in math," Cassidy wrote in his letters. "This state of affairs is unacceptable and demands immediate corrective action." As a physician and former college professor, Cassidy points to NAEP data and university reports as evidence that admissions reforms have unintended consequences.

The HELP Committee's probe is not punitive but diagnostic, aiming to understand prevalence and root causes. Universities must respond by February 6, 2026, providing detailed data to inform potential policy recommendations. This mirrors Cassidy's prior efforts, including a 2024 report on K-12 reforms emphasizing phonics-based reading and rigorous math standards.

Targeted Institutions: A Who's Who of Elite U.S. Higher Education

The 35 institutions span Ivy League powerhouses and top public and private universities, all ranked among the most selective in America. They include:

• Harvard University
• Stanford University
• Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)
• Princeton University
• Yale University
• Columbia University
• Duke University
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of California, Berkeley
• University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA)

Full list also encompasses Brown University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Johns Hopkins University, Northwestern University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, and others like Carnegie Mellon, Georgia Tech, and Rice University. These schools collectively shape national talent pipelines for STEM fields, business, and policy.

Precise Data Requested: Placement Trends and Admissions Insights

Cassidy's letters pose targeted questions to illuminate the scope of the problem. Universities must submit:

• Numbers and percentages of incoming freshmen placed into each math course (including remedial/pre-college levels) from fall 2019 to 2025.
• Descriptions of all referenced math courses and placement decision processes.
• University-wide math graduation requirements.
• Whether SAT, ACT, or other math assessments are required or considered for admission.

This granular data will reveal trends, such as surges in remedial enrollments post-2020, and test whether reinstating standardized tests could better predict readiness.

Photo by Chunjiang on Unsplash

Case Study: UC San Diego's Alarming Remedial Math Surge

University of California, San Diego (UCSD)—one of the inquired institutions—provides a stark example. A November 2025 Senate-Administration Workgroup report documented a thirtyfold increase in freshmen below high school math standards between 2020 and 2025. By fall 2024, over 900 students (12.5% of the cohort) placed into Math 2/3B remedial sequences; in 2025, 921 students (11.8%). Shockingly, 70% of these fell below middle school levels, and over 25% had perfect 4.0 high school math GPAs.

UCSD attributes this to test-blind admissions since 2020, pandemic disruptions, grade inflation (low correlation between HS GPA and placement at 0.25), and increased enrollment from under-resourced California high schools via Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF+) priorities—one in three LCFF+ students now requires remediation.

Unpacking the Causes: Test-Optional Policies, Inflation, and Pandemic Effects

Multiple factors converge:

• Test-Optional Admissions: SAT math sections historically best predict college placement; without them, reliance on inflated GPAs misleads. UCSD data shows SAT as top predictor.
• Grade Inflation: HS math GPAs rose 2010-2022 amid falling proficiency; easier A's despite stagnant skills.
• Pandemic and Equity Shifts: Chronic absenteeism (20%+), curriculum gaps in under-resourced schools.

For deeper career guidance on navigating STEM pathways, explore tips for academic CVs tailored to math-heavy fields.

Implications for STEM Pipelines and University Resources

Remedial math burdens students and institutions. At UCSD, Math 2 placers face 24-51% D/F/W rates in gateway courses like Math 10/20, delaying graduation and derailing engineering majors—few succeed. Nationally, this threatens U.S. competitiveness in STEM, where math proficiency underpins innovation.

Universities strain resources: UCSD faced instructor shortages for expanded remedial sections. Selective schools may see rising attrition, longer time-to-degree, and equity tensions as underprepared students from diverse backgrounds struggle.

Proposed Solutions and Expert Perspectives

UCSD recommends a "Math Index" using transcripts to flag risks, early summer placement tests (by June 1), major-specific requirements, and high school feedback loops. Nationally, experts like Pamela Burdman of Just Equations advocate collaboration between K-12 and colleges for aligned standards.

Cassidy's inquiry could spur federal incentives for test reinstatement or K-12 interventions. Check faculty positions in math education amid reform discussions.

What Admissions Changes Mean for Prospective Students and Families

High-achieving students risk mismatched placements; parents should prioritize rigorous HS curricula. Aspiring collegians can bolster readiness via AP Calculus, summer programs, or self-study. Rate professors at target schools via Rate My Professor for math course insights.

For job seekers, strong quantitative skills open doors in academia—browse professor jobs emphasizing math proficiency.

Photo by Manish Das on Unsplash

Outlook: Reforms on the Horizon?

As responses roll in, Cassidy may hold hearings, echoing past HELP probes into education failures. Positive outcomes could include standardized testing revivals, GPA recalibrations, or partnerships with high schools. This scrutiny positions higher education at a crossroads: balancing access with excellence.

Explore higher ed jobs, rate your professors, and career advice to thrive amid changes. University administrators, visit executive roles; faculty, faculty openings.