There’s a common argument against replacing the SHSAT with multiple-measures.  It goes something to the effect, “We concede this test is a problem, but why focus on the test when we have bigger issues?“.

Not all Black or Hispanic students need the same thing

Just as not all White or Asian students need the same thing.  We’re fighting for fair measurement of merit because we know there are many students out there earning the grades for Specialized High Schools but not getting SHSAT offers.  Mainly because they didn’t study for a single multiple-choice test.

These Black students are not the same students that are scoring below proficiency in state tests. 

This Argument is an “Appeal to Worse”  

An Appeal to the Worse suggests we fix unrelated problems before we can consider fixing a relatively smaller issue.  Even as both these issues are separate and important.  

We can fix the Specialized High School entrance to include multiple-measures without fixing anything else.  There doesn’t need to be any prioritization or competition.  Especially if fixing the SHSAT does not compete with resources to fix other issues, which it doesn’t.

We absolutely should fix rigor in public schools.  Giving every classroom access to improved rigorous instruction.  It’s not ok that 70% of Black students in NY public schools are not proficient.  But that statistic says nothing of the roughly 30% of Black students that are proficient. 

In their ranks, there are many students who do get the grades for Specialized High Schools but are not considered because they didn’t focus on a single exam.

E.g. This student’s account: “I was the valedictorian of my eighth-grade class and earned a special honor for never missing a day of school…“