top of page
Search

When Test Scores Supersede Humanity: The Hidden Harm to Marginalized Math Learners

Writer's picture: Pamela SedaPamela Seda
Test Score

The Problem


Every day, students sit silently in math classrooms, staring at problems they don’t understand, and feeling like failures before they’ve even begun. These students aren’t just struggling with equations—they’re battling a system that has prioritized test scores over their humanity. For marginalized learners, standardized tests don’t just measure performance; they reinforce the belief that they’re not good enough.


Standardized tests narrowly define what students know and are able to do. They reduce the complexities of learning to direct response questions that fail to capture the full depth of a student’s understanding. These tests are flawed in ways that disproportionately harm the very students who most need support:


  1. False Positives: Students may guess their way to a correct answer, masking gaps in understanding.

  2. False Negatives: Knowledgeable students may miss questions due to math anxiety, cultural disconnects, or poorly designed questions.

  3. Sorting and Labeling: Standardized tests are one of many mechanisms used to sort students into fixed categories like “low" or "average." Instead of helping students see where they are in their learning journey on specific math topics, these labels often stigmatize students, perpetuating destructive stereotypes and limiting opportunities for growth. As discussed in my October 15, 2024 blog, labels can trap students into believing they are either inherently good or bad at math, instead of guiding them to view learning as a journey of continued growth and getting better over time.


The ICUCARE® principle of Assess, Activate, and Build on Prior Knowledge highlights the importance of seeing where students are in their learning without stigmatizing their starting points. It emphasizes using assessments to identify strengths and areas for growth, valuing the knowledge students bring to the classroom.


For marginalized learners, the consequences are dire. These tests perpetuate stereotypes, penalize diverse ways of thinking, and push students further into the margins. Leaders who cling to test scores as the ultimate measure of success risk ignoring the very real needs of their students and teachers. These students don’t need pity—they need leaders who will end their suffering by transforming math instruction into a tool of empowerment and equity.


Did you know?

The Bigger Picture


When schools prioritize standardized test scores, they send a harmful message: being correct matters more than understanding. This approach shapes classrooms into spaces of compliance and conformity, where curiosity and creativity are stifled. Marginalized students, in particular, are robbed of opportunities to engage in the deep, meaningful learning that math can provide. Instead, they are taught to memorize steps, bubble in answers, and survive the system.


This is not just a math problem—it’s a leadership problem. Principals and school leaders have the power to redefine what success looks like in their schools, but doing so requires courage and commitment. The ICUCARE® principle of Be Critically Conscious reminds leaders to actively recognize and dismantle practices that perpetuate inequities, such as overreliance on test scores, and instead advocate for approaches that honor every student’s potential.


 

A More Promising Approach


If we want to create math classrooms that are spaces of hope and achievement, we must move beyond standardized test scores and embrace assessments that honor the mathematical brilliance of all students. Here’s how:


  1. Focus on Formative Assessments

    • Formative assessments provide teachers with ongoing insights into how students think and what they need. These tools allow for real-time adjustments and personalized support that foster true understanding. By aligning with Assess, Activate, and Build on Prior Knowledge, formative assessments help teachers recognize and build upon what students already know.

  2. Encourage Reflective Practices

    • Students need assessments that empower them to reflect on their learning journey by answering these three critical questions:

      1. What did I do well?

      2. What areas need improvement?

      3. What steps can I take to improve?

    • This approach fosters Release Control by encouraging student agency and ownership of their learning process.

  3. Analyze Student Work

    • Go beyond multiple-choice questions. Use tasks that require students to explain their reasoning, defend their solutions, and show their thought processes. This strategy aligns with Include Others as Experts by valuing student contributions as integral to the learning process.

  4. Emphasize Growth Measures

    • Shift the focus from end-of-year test scores to measures that track student progress over time. Growth-based assessments celebrate improvement and effort, encouraging all students to see themselves as capable learners. This practice reinforces Expect More by holding high expectations while supporting all students to meet them.


Students

The Role of Leaders


Your teachers need a leader who sees beyond test scores. They need someone who understands that transforming math instruction requires systems of support, professional growth, and a belief in their potential. Your students need a leader who refuses to let them fall through the cracks—who believes that every student, regardless of their background, deserves the opportunity to succeed.


Here’s how you can lead this transformation:


  • Redefine Success (Be Critically Conscious): Partner with teachers to create a vision of success that values understanding, reasoning, and growth over test performance.

  • Invest in Professional Development (Understand Your Students Well): Equip your teachers with the tools and strategies to use formative assessments effectively and analyze student work.

  • Promote Equity in Assessment (Use Culturally Relevant Curricula): Advocate for assessments that honor the cultural and intellectual diversity of your students.

  • Be Courageous (Release Control): Challenge the status quo and push for systemic changes that prioritize learning over compliance.


Keep Moving Forward

Moving Forward


Every student deserves a math classroom where they feel capable, confident, and valued. Every teacher deserves a leader who believes in their ability to make this vision a reality. By shifting the focus from test scores to meaningful learning, you have the power to transform your school into a place where every student can thrive.


The ICUCARE® Equity Framework provides the foundation for this transformation. By creating systems of support and fostering equity-focused practices, leaders can turn their schools into spaces of empowerment for all. Are you ready to lead this change? Let’s reimagine what’s possible together.

148 views0 comments

Comments


bottom of page