Giving the SAT a Facelift to Improve Standardized Scores

American students, especially African- and Latin-Americans are performing poorly on international assessments such as the PISA. On the 2012 PISA math and science scores remained below average (496) for African-Americans scoring 421 in math and 439-science and Latin-Americans 455 in math and 462 in science (National Center for Education Statistics, 2012). The educational disparities is exacerbated by the low high-school graduation rates and college attendance by minorities. Part of the problem can be attributed to the disproportionately high number of minority students in remedial classes and lack of diversity in gifted education programs. Several factors contribute to a disproportionate number of minority students being placed in special education. Poverty perpetuate problems ranging from premature births to impoverished neighborhoods. Insufficient funding, inadequate resources, and poor curriculum impedes a constructive learning environment (Artiles, Harry, Reschly, Chinn, 2002). Also the lack of cultural cohesion between teachers and students may result in students of color placed in special education programs (Bailey, 2012). In addition, some assessments used for placement may be culturally bias (Artiles, Harry, Reschly, Chinn, 2002) and students possibly lack suitable instruction before being placed in remedial education. Students in impoverished neighborhoods receive considerably less state and local funding, the lack of resources increase the probability of being