It's About Access: How the Curricular System and Unequal Learning Opportunities Predict the Racial Test Score Gap in Mathematics
Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: This mixed methods study investigates how the design of the curricular system of one Colorado school district contributes the racial test score and racial college preparedness gaps in mathematics. The researcher examined this issue through a mixed methods design using Critical Race Theory (CRT) as the overarching theoretical framework supported by Yosso's (2002) Critical Race Curriculum. For the quantitative portion of the study the researcher utilized the theory of opportunity to learn (OTL) to test the impact of differential access to advanced mathematics content on test score outcomes on the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) and the Colorado ACT (COACT). In the qualitative portion of this study the researcher examined the design of the curricular system by investigating the curricular structures, processes and discourses that led to the outcomes. The findings of this study revealed that the design of the curricular system leads to differential curricular access for Black and Latino students thus explaining the construction of the racial test score gap in mathematics. Implications are discussed.
Author: Floyd Cobb
Language: English
Subfield: Sociology and Political Science
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2519077579