Cabaldon Claims National Policy Award
By Nick McConnell | Times~Herald
State Senator Christopher Cabaldon has won an award for “forward-thinking state and local policymakers” from NewDEAL Forum, according to a press release from his office. The competition, known as the New Ideas Challenge, annually asks lawmakers to enter “submissions focused on policies to build strong, healthy communities.” Cabaldon is one of six winners of the award this year.
“State Senator Christopher Cabaldon is recognized for his Expanding College Access Through Direct Admission legislation, SB 640, which establishes a direct admission program to the California State University (CSU) system for qualified high school seniors,” the release reads. “Instead of requiring an application, each student who has completed the A-G eligibility requirements will automatically receive a congratulatory admission letter to the CSU.”
Winners were selected from more than 50 policy proposals reviewed by NewDEAL and were reviewed by national policy experts. Cabaldon’s bill aims to make it easier for all graduates of California High Schools to pursue collegiate success at California State Universities.
“It should be just as seamless to move from high school graduation to your first day as a college freshman as it is to move from 10th to 11th grade,” Senator Cabaldon said. “Too many qualified students never make it through the admissions maze. SB 640 ensures every eligible student gets that letter of admission, without the application. By reframing college acceptance, SB 640 makes higher education the natural next step, without the unnecessary forms and fees that deter students who may not have realized they are college material.”
The award comes in a year rife with federal budget cuts and political uncertainty across the state and national levels, according to the release.
“The winners of the 2025 Ideas Challenge exemplify what effective leadership looks like in practice – developing innovative policies that empower hardworking Americans,” said Jonathon Dworkin, Executive Director of the NewDEAL Forum. “These elected officials are addressing some of the most pressing challenges facing Americans today, from housing affordability and access to health care to public safety and education. Their work reflects a deep commitment to pragmatic problem-solving that focuses on issues that matter most to families and communities.”
Submissions for the challenge were required to be in one of six topic areas: Housing, Health, Education, Youth Investment, Public Safety, and Democracy. Judges narrowed the field to twenty finalists and then selected one winner from each topic area.
“The Ideas Challenge was organized by the NewDEAL Forum, a non-profit organization that identifies and elevates innovative, future-oriented state and local policies that can improve the lives of all Americans,” the release reads. “By facilitating the identification and spread of policy ideas, the NewDEAL Forum seeks to foster economic growth, reduce barriers to opportunity, and promote good government in communities, cities, and states throughout the country.”
SB 640, which was signed by Governor Gavin Newsom in October, builds on a pilot program developed by Cabaldon as Mayor of West Sacramento, in which graduates were given automatic admission to Sacramento City College.
“This is a common-sense solution to two urgent problems,” said Cabaldon. “Tens of thousands of students are qualified but never apply. At the same time, CSU campuses are seeing alarming enrollment declines. This policy bridges that gap, and it does so with a tool that’s as powerful emotionally as it is administratively: the acceptance letter.”
