SAT and ACT requirements were removed for public colleges in the state.
In late May, Colorado's Governor Jared Polis signed off on a ban to eliminate the practice of "legacy" admissions for public colleges in the state.
Until now, some Colorado college applications offered a section where applicants could identify if they were a "legacy," meaning they had a relative who previously went to that school. Theoretically, being a legacy gave applicants a leg up on other applicants when it came to admission (despite actual qualifications).
It's a nationwide practice, often used more by private higher ed institutions than public, but by signing the ban into law, Colorado has become the first state to officially eliminate the practice.
Several public higher education institutions across the nation have already taken steps to eliminate legacy admissions on their own. Those colleges and universities that still consider legacy applicants often do so to encourage donations and other giving.
The governor also signed a bill that removed the SAT and ACT requirements for incoming freshmen, though it still allows students to submit those test scores if they wish.
The two new pieces of legislation are to ensure that all students have a chance to pursue higher education. For example, legacy students often have an advantage over students who may be first-generation college applicants, despite qualifications.
In addition, research has shown that test scores don't really measure the ability of a student but rather are more connected to their socioeconomic status. Those students whose families can afford test preparation courses to get ready to take the test unsurprisingly do better than those students who couldn't afford the courses.
"In Colorado, there are significant racial and socioeconomic disparities among students who enroll in higher education institutions. Roughly 63% of White students in Colorado and 67% of middle- to high-income students enroll in a bachelor's degree program directly from high school. Conversely, only 42% of Latino students and 47% of low-income students enroll in a bachelor's degree program directly from high school," said the legislation. "Many students who choose not to attend a higher education institution are prepared to attend. One reason for the significant disparities in college enrollment is inequitable admissions practices."
How do you feel about the changes to Colorado's public admission practices? Let us know in the comments.
