California Education Chief Candidate Proposes Support for Students Struggling with Math

<p>California superintendent candidate Richard Barrera has proposed that university professors assist students in improving their basic math skills instead of excluding them from admission. He expressed his stance against reinstating SAT requirements during an interview with NBC LA’s Conan Nolan on October 5, 2026.</p><p>Barrera stated that he would not support the reintroduction of SAT requirements for schools within the University of California system. He responded to concerns raised by professors from institutions such as UC San Diego and UC Berkeley regarding incoming students' lack of basic math skills, including the ability to work with fractions.</p><p>“Absolutely not,” Barrera stated firmly when asked about standardized testing. He emphasized that math teachers at universities should be responsible for teaching students the necessary skills. “Teach them fractions when they’re at the preeminent institutions of higher learning in the country?” Nolan inquired for clarification.</p><p>Barrera argued that students who have overcome significant barriers to attend college require support to catch up academically rather than exclusion from the system. “Listen, we’ve got students who are coming up from incredible experiences, first generation students overcoming so many barriers to be on the campus,” he said. “Those students are capable of learning quickly. What they need is a little support to be caught up. What they don’t need is to be excluded.”</p><p>The University of California system eliminated the requirement for standardized testing, including the SAT and ACT, in 2020 due to concerns that these tests disproportionately disadvantaged black, Hispanic, and low-income students. Despite reports from professors indicating an increase in unprepared students, college applicants are increasingly reporting GPAs of 4.0 or higher, raising concerns about potential grade inflation at the high school level.</p><p>Barrera is currently the president of the San Diego Unified School Board and serves as a senior policy adviser for special projects at the California Department of Education under State Superintendent Tony Thurmond. He is running against Chino Valley Unified School Board President Sonja Shaw to succeed Thurmond.</p>