Standardized test scores as acceptance criteria for dental hygiene programs.
The principal goal of acceptance criteria is to select candi-dates who will graduate and transition into professional practice. However, in an attempt to increase the diversity of their student populations, educators are anxious to make changes to the traditional acceptance criteria, such as standardized test scores. Yet data indicate that standardized testing biases against certain populations of students (i.e., female, culturally diverse, and those from lower socioeconomic backgrounds). Fairer assessment measures should continue to be sought.
College of Health and Human Services, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ 86011, USA. denise.helm@nau.edu
Denise Muesch
DM
Helm
D018864:Cultural Diversity; D003756:Dental Hygienists / Q000193:education*; D004521:Educational Measurement / Q000379:methods*; D054624:Health Status Disparities; D040361:Healthy People Programs; D006801:Humans; D008507:Medically Underserved Area; D012570:School Admission Criteria