Racial bias in standardized tests

Standardized tests are everywhere. They start in grade school and are administered until you decide you no longer want to get a formal education. They define, promote, advance, open doors, close doors and many other things that can dictate a future for a student. So think about a world where standardized tests were not designed with your culture or race in mind. Think about the idea of trying everything to score high on the SAT but realizing on average your scores are automatically at least one standard deviation or 100 points lower than those of the dominate race.

This is the case for minority (Black and Latino/Latina) students. Dr. Janet Helms has done several studies and lectures on this very topic. She discusses this issue in her books and particularly her recent speech, Solving the Mystery of Racial Bias in Testing. Dr. Helms mentions that no research or book has solved this mystery. The only thing that she has been able to show that could possibly make this issue a non-issue is to give Black students the opportunity to be White students.

This sounds crazy but in order to close the gap of this discrepancy in test scores minority students, specifically Black and Latino/Latina, must not feel the pressure of being a minority. The feelings of needing to work twice as hard, understanding that their race automatically puts them at a disadvantage and wondering what it would be like to be a majority or White has to be removed and they must practically “be White”. According to many counselors and psychologists the relief of knowing that no matter what, if you try hard you will receive a fair chance, removes many psychological factors that can affect students test-taking.

Since it is understood that changing the psychological make-up of a person is not a possibility for all minority students it should be also understood that something must be done to change the outcome of standardized tests and make sure they account for minority students specifically Black and Latino/Latina. As parents, teachers, students and administrators your voices can change what is taking place. Yes, there is still more research to be done but understanding that racial bias exists presents the possibility of finding a solution. Our children deserve a search for a solution.

Check out some SAT scores here.