Bias Sensitivity Review Committee

Issues of bias in test materials are of particular concern because an important tenet of assessment is to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge and skills.

The review of reading passages and items conducted by the Bias & Sensitivity Review Committee is an important step in the item development process and the information obtained from the committee is essential in helping to ensure that the reading passages and items do not provide an unfair advantage to any particular subgroup of the student population over another for non-educational reasons.

However, it is important to note that the role of the Bias & Sensitivity Review Committee is an advisory one. The final decisions concerning which passages and items are included in the assessment will be made by the New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Vermont Departments' of Education.