Reinvestigating the Achievement Gap: An Analysis of Student Performance on the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium and California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE)

• In Event: 16.060 - Roundtable Session 3
  In Roundtable Session: 16.060-7 - Test-Based Accountability and Achievement Gaps

Abstract

This paper presents the results of an investigation conducted in partnership with the California Department of Education (CDE) and examines the variation in student performance on the newly implemented Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) exam. Analysis reveals that significant gaps in test performance persist between subgroups, but that these gaps narrow on both the math and English Language Arts (ELA) exam for select subgroups in the absence of a high-stakes setting. This study therefore holds significance for both researchers and policymakers, as it contributes to the emerging literature on student outcomes relative to Common Core assessments and details that further analysis is warranted concerning the impact these exams, particularly the Smarter Balanced assessment, may have on student subgroups.

Authors

• Alexandria Maylen Hurtt, University of California - Davis

• Sherrie Reed, University of California - Davis

• Michal Kurlaender, University of California - Davis

• Paco Martorell, University of California - Davis

• Matthew Naven, University of California - Davis