The Unintended Consequences of VAM: Excluding Latinx Social Studies Topics

• In Event: Critical Issues in Social Studies Teaching and Learning

Abstract

Using the nonparametric Mann–Whitney U-Test to analyze 128 survey responses from K-12 teachers, this paper considers the question: How do value-added measures (VAM) impact how educators include Latinx topics in their social studies lessons? We focus on three major findings that suggest that VAM limits teacher implementation of a diverse curriculum. First, VAM teachers are more likely to rely on district/state curriculum standards than non-VAM teachers. Second, teachers in VAM districts show less content coverage for Latinx specific topics that are hard to fit within the pre-existing narratives in social studies curriculum. Third, when Latinx topics are aligned with curriculum standards, teachers in VAM districts show higher content coverage of that topic than non-VAM teachers.

Authors

• Maribel Santiago, University of Washington - Seattle

• Hana Kang, Michigan State University