Ripped From the Headlines: The Return of Affirmative Action in California?

This story arrived just before I finalized this CKQ, but I thought it was important enough to swap in for another story. Obviously, there are a few unbelievably large and looming national headlines we are still reeling from in 2020. One is the George Floyd case and subsequent national and international protests, and the changes that have and will continue to follow because of it. One such ramification from that monumental event may take shape in California this November.

California voters will be asked to weigh in to decide if Proposition 209, which banned the use of race and gender as items for consideration for access to government contracts and in college admission, is still fair. It is this second part that we will pay close attention to here.

The proposition, which has been in effect since 1996, has prevented the California State University and University of California systems from considering race or gender, among other factors, in the admission decision process. The law specifically states that government agencies, “shall not discriminate against, or grant preferential treatment to, any individual or group on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin.” The question being raised again is this: does Prop 209 effectively create a fair or unfair environment for college admissions in the state of California?

This is not the first time the issue has been debated on the state senate floor. The last time was six years ago, when Asian American advocacy groups declared that allowing for race consideration in college admissions would limit opportunities for Asian American students.

Per much of our lives in the modern era, this is another completely politicized ballot measure, with all Democrats in the state senate voting to get Prop 209’s revision to the voters in November, and all but one Republican state senator voting against the measure. For the record, I think both sides have valid arguments against the other – this really is a tougher call that many might think.

I am not going to tell you how to vote in November – that’s not my place – but I am going to suggest that you read up on the pros and cons of this vitally important argument – as it has the potential of radically changing the college admissions landscape at the 32 public undergraduate institutions in our two large collegiate systems in California.

Keeping Prop 209 in place means the CSU and UC systems will continue along the same path they have been on for 25 years – the UC’s specifically looking at fourteen values that dictate an admission decision:

1. Academic GPA in A-G Courses

2. Scores on SAT/ACT tests (now test optional in 2021 and 2022)

3. Number of, content of, and performance in non A-G academic courses

4. Number of and performance in UC-approved honors, AP, IB and transfer level college courses

5. Identification of a student in the top 9% of the high school or state (known as the ELC)

6. Quality and quantity of senior year programming

7. Quality of academic performance compared to the available opportunities at the student’s high school

8. Outstanding performance in one or more academic areas

9. Outstanding work in one ore more special projects in any academic field

10. Recent, marked improvement in academic performance

11. Special talents, achievements, awards in a particular field

12. Completion of special projects in conjunction with special events, projects or programs

13. Academic accomplishments in light of personal life experiences and special circumstances

14. Location of secondary school and residence Voting to change Prop 209 will allow for the consideration of race, creed, color, religion, and/or sexual orientation in the decision-making process for these institutions of higher education – with the goal of increasing equality.

The first article I came across that discussed this issue in detail was from the LA Times. Here is a link to the article if you would like to see/read it for yourself: https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-06-24/california-voters-will-be-asked-to-restore-affirmative-action-in-november