Who Founded the College Board? A Tale of Ivy League Dreams and Standardized Testing Nightmares
Ever wondered who came up with the idea of subjecting millions of high schoolers to the dreaded SATs? Well, buckle up, because the story of the College Board’s founding is a wild ride through the halls of academia, filled with ambitious Ivy League presidents, a dash of elitism, and the birth of a testing empire that would make even the most seasoned test-taker sweat.
The College Board: A Legacy of Standardized Testing
The College Board – a name that sends shivers down the spines of countless students – was born in the late 19th century, a time when higher education was still very much the domain of the privileged few. It all started in 1899, when twelve prestigious universities and three elite preparatory academies got together at Columbia University, their goal: to create a standardized test that would “level the playing field” for aspiring college students.
The Founding Fathers of the College Board, if you will, were a who’s who of Ivy League heavyweights: Columbia University, Colgate University, Harvard University, Princeton University, Yale University, and more. They were convinced that a uniform exam would ensure that only the “best and brightest” got into their hallowed halls. Of course, what they didn’t realize was that their noble intentions would eventually lead to a system that has been criticized for perpetuating inequality and favoring students from privileged backgrounds.
A Brief History of the College Board’s Founding
The College Board’s founding was a culmination of several factors. The rise of higher education in the late 19th century created a need for a more standardized way of evaluating prospective students. The traditional system of relying on high school transcripts and letters of recommendation was seen as being too subjective and unreliable, especially when trying to compare students from different schools and regions.
The founding members of the College Board, being staunch believers in meritocracy, saw the standardized test as a way to ensure that everyone had an equal chance of getting into college, regardless of their socioeconomic background. Of course, we know now that this was a bit of a naive assumption. The reality is that standardized tests are often inherently biased against students from low-income families and historically marginalized communities. This is a problem that the College Board has been grappling with for decades, and it’s one that they’re still trying to solve.
Carl Brigham: The Man Who Created the SAT
Fast forward to 1926, and the College Board tasked a psychologist named Carl Brigham with designing a standardized test that would measure students’ aptitude for college-level work. Brigham, who had previously worked on intelligence tests for the military, was convinced that he could create a test that would accurately predict a student’s success in college.
The result was the Scholastic Aptitude Test, or SAT, as we know it today. The SAT was initially designed to assess students’ ability to learn, not what they had learned. But over time, the test evolved to encompass a broader range of academic skills, including reading comprehension, math, and writing. The SAT quickly became the gold standard for college admissions, and it remains so today, despite its many critics.
The College Board Today: A Testing Empire
Today, the College Board is a multi-billion dollar organization that administers a dizzying array of tests, including the SAT, the Advanced Placement (AP) exams, and the PSAT. It also offers a range of other services to students, including college planning resources and scholarships. But the College Board’s focus on standardized testing has come under intense scrutiny in recent years.
Critics argue that the SAT and other standardized tests are unfair to students from disadvantaged backgrounds, and that they perpetuate a system of inequality. They also point out that the tests are not a reliable predictor of college success, and that they can actually discourage students from pursuing higher education. The College Board has responded to these criticisms by making changes to its tests and by expanding its outreach programs. But the organization still faces a significant challenge in convincing the public that its tests are fair and equitable.
The Future of the College Board: A Question of Equity
So, what does the future hold for the College Board? It’s a question that’s being debated by educators, policymakers, and students alike. As the landscape of higher education continues to evolve, it’s likely that the role of standardized testing will come under increasing scrutiny. The College Board will need to adapt to these changing times if it wants to remain relevant.
One of the biggest challenges facing the College Board is how to ensure that its tests are fair and equitable for all students. The organization has made some progress in this area, but there is still much work to be done. The College Board will need to continue to invest in research and development to ensure that its tests are accurate and unbiased. It will also need to work with educators and policymakers to create a more equitable system of college admissions.
Who Rules the College Board?
The College Board is governed by a Board of Trustees, elected by member delegates. This board is responsible for setting the organization’s strategic goals and overseeing its operations. The current CEO of the College Board is David Coleman, a former teacher and education policy expert who has been at the helm of the organization since 2012. Coleman has been a vocal advocate for college access and affordability, and he has been instrumental in leading the College Board’s efforts to modernize its tests and expand its outreach programs.
The College Board: A Complex Legacy
The College Board has a long and complex history, and its legacy is far from settled. While the organization has played a significant role in promoting college access and raising educational standards, its reliance on standardized testing has also been criticized for perpetuating inequality. As the College Board continues to evolve, it will be interesting to see how it addresses the challenges of the 21st century and what steps it takes to ensure that its tests are fair and equitable for all students.
Need More Information?
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