California Governor Gavin Newsom signed three school admissions-related payments into legislation, all with a deal with making California a pacesetter in enhancing fairness in greater schooling.
The legislative bundle, collectively referred to as the “Fairness Three,” is designed to extend entry and alternative for all college students, no matter background or financial standing. This daring step is available in response to mounting issues about unfair benefits in school admissions, particularly following the U.S. Supreme Courtroom’s latest ruling on race-conscious admissions.
Ending Legacy Admissions
The centerpiece of the brand new legal guidelines is Meeting Invoice 1780 (AB 1780). It makes California considered one of simply two states to ban legacy admissions at personal universities and schools, which regularly give preferential therapy to candidates with household ties to alumni or donors. The apply has lengthy been criticized for perpetuating systemic privilege, benefiting the rich and excluding underrepresented college students.
As of September 1, 2025, personal establishments receiving state funding, similar to Stanford College and the College of Southern California (USC), will now not be allowed to prioritize college students primarily based on their familial connections.
“In California, everybody ought to be capable of get forward by means of benefit, talent, and exhausting work,” Governor Newsom mentioned in an announcement. “The California Dream shouldn’t be accessible to only a fortunate few, which is why we’re opening the door to greater schooling broad sufficient for everybody, pretty.”
AB 1780 follows Maryland’s comparable ban on legacy admissions at personal establishments, handed earlier this 12 months. Though California’s public universities, such because the College of California (UC) and California State College (CSU), already had insurance policies in place towards legacy preferences, this legislation extends that prohibition to non-public faculties receiving public funds by means of applications like Cal Grants.
Critics of legacy admissions argue that the apply disproportionately advantages rich, predominantly white households whereas disadvantaging minority and low-income college students. A state audit in 2020 revealed that UC Berkeley had admitted no less than 55 college students primarily based on connections or donations, elevating additional issues in regards to the integrity of the admissions course of.
Two Different Payments Rising Fairness In Increased Schooling
Along with AB 1780, Governor Newsom signed two different payments aimed toward growing fairness in greater schooling. Senate Invoice 1348 (SB 1348), establishes a Black-Serving Establishment (BSI) designation. This initiative acknowledges schools and universities that excel in enrolling, supporting, and graduating Black college students. By providing strong African American research applications, scholar success initiatives, and focused outreach companies, establishments with the BSI designation will play a vital position in advancing fairness for Black college students.
Meeting Invoice 2057 (AB 2057), seeks to streamline the group college-to-university switch course of. This invoice prioritizes the event of assured STEM switch pathways, making certain that college students from underrepresented communities can advance seamlessly into high-demand fields similar to science, expertise, engineering, and arithmetic.
