Social Justice and Educational Measurement : John Rawls, the history of testing, and the future of education

This book addresses foundational concerns at the interface of educational measurement and social justice. Following John Rawls’s philosophical methods, Stein builds and justifies an ethical framework for guiding practices involving educational measurement which demonstrates that educational measurement is critical to insuring, or inhibiting, just educational arrangements, and distinguishes between efficiency- and justice-oriented testing. Analysing historical case studies which exemplify ethical testing issues, this book explores design principles and arguments in favour of radically democratic school reforms, which address how the future of testing might be shaped to ensure justice for all.

Social Justice and Educational Measurement addresses foundational concerns at the interface of standardized testing and social justice in American schools. Following John Rawls’s philosophical methods, Stein builds and justifies an ethical framework for guiding practices involving educational measurement. This framework demonstrates that educational measurement can both inhibit and ensure just educational arrangements. It also clarifies a principled distinction between efficiency-oriented testing and justice-oriented testing.

Through analysis of several historical case studies that exemplify ethical issues related to testing, this book explores and propounds speculative design principles and arguments in favour of radically democratic school reforms, which address how the future of testing might be shaped to ensure justice for all. These case studies cover the widespread use of IQ-style testing in schools during the early decades of the 20th century; the founding of the Educational Testing Service; and the recent history of test-based accountability associated with No Child Left Behind.

Social Justice and Educational Measurement will be essential reading for academics, researchers and postgraduate students in education, testing and assessment, and the philosophy of education. It will also be of interest to policymakers and educational administrators.