Educational Testing: Measuring and Remedying Achievement Gaps
Title
Educational Testing: Measuring and Remedying Achievement Gaps
Author
Lee, Jaekyung
Research Area
Social Institutions
Topic
Educational Institutions
Abstract
Achievement gaps, as measured by standardized tests, are inextricably related to educational goals, standards, norms, and benchmarks for student learning outcomes. I revisit conventional approaches to educational testing to measure achievement gaps—norm‐referenced, criterion‐referenced, and potential‐referenced tests. I explore and discuss a paradigm shift from “passive” tests to “responsive” tests that promotes the diagnosis and remediation of achievement gaps. Particularly, I propose an environment‐referenced approach to testing with the specification of desired learning opportunities and environment conditions that enable students to meet upgraded achievement norms, standards, and benchmarks.