The SATs new 'adversity score' doesn't solve the test's racial bias

The College Board recently revealed a new “adversity score” that it plans to use as part of the SAT in order to reflect students' social and economic background.

The mere fact that the College Board sees a need for an “adversity score” is a tacit admission that the SAT isn't fair for all students.

Despite this, the new adversity score is still deeply flawed, according to Leigh Patel, the Associate Dean for Equity and Justice at the University of Pittsburgh.

Visit Business Insider's homepage for more stories.

The College Board recently revealed a new “adversity score” that it plans to use as part of the SAT in order to reflect students' social and economic background.

The mere fact that the College Board sees a need for an “adversity score” is a tacit admission that the SAT isn't fair for all students. But will the new score — formally called the Environmental Context Dashboard — truly capture the challenges that students face？

As an education researcher who focuses on matters of equity, I believe the new adversity score will be an inadequate remedy for a test that has been inequitable from the start.

Read more: The SAT is adding an 'adversity score' that will quietly let colleges track a student's wealth and privilege

Here's why.