Even though more than half of the National Merit Scholarship competitors nationwide are female, senior girls make up only 42 percent of scholarship semifinalists, contends a Massachusetts organization that monitors standardized testing.
In Utah, only 33 percent of the state's semifinalists were female, the lowest in the nation, according to a recent report by FairTest, the National Center for Fair and Open Testing.The organization contends that the Preliminary Scholastic Achievement Test, a key selection criteria for the National Merit scholarships, is biased against female students.
"The test makers' own research clearly shows that year after year the PSAT discriminates against young women, but they still actively encourage its use to select National Merit semifinalists," said Bob Schaeffer, FairTest public education director.
Dave Nelson, director of evaluation and assessment for the Utah State Office of Education, said the organization's assertions were vague at best.
"They don't say why it's biased or what makes it biased. Differences in performance do not mean bias. It's a specious argument," Nelson said.
Said Elaine Detweiler, spokeswoman for the National Merit Scholarship Program: "There's no evidence the PSAT is biased. ETS, (Educational Testing Service) which developed the test, has many procedures in place that ensure that the test is fair."
But Schaeffer said Utah has a historical pattern of a low percentage of female semifinalists, let alone finalists for the scholarship program, which are now being announced for 1995.
In 1994, 38.5 percent of Utah's National Merit semifinalists were female. In 1993, 33 percent were female and in 1992, 36 percent were female.
FairTest's analysis is based on lists of names provided by the National Merit Scholarship Corp. In some cases, researchers were unable to determine from the names provided whether participants were male or female. In Utah's case, gender could not be determined for 5 percent of the names.
Nelson said research suggests that students who are enrolled in advanced mathematics classes such as trigonometry and calculus perform better on standardized test, regardless of gender.
Historically, Utah girls have shied away from more rigorous math classes, but that trend is changing, he said.
"We fixed a lot of that at the lower and intermediate levels. When you get to trigonometry, advanced algebra and calculus, that changes, and the percentage of males is higher in those courses," he said.
Nelson points to Olympus High School, which this has nine National Merit Scholars. Eight are female.
Olympus High senior Jocelyn James said she doesn't believe the tests are biased. There is a dearth, however, of young women in upper division math and science classes.
"Girls need to be encouraged to take those classes. But if they haven't taken the classes and they score lower, it's not a gender bias problem. Their scores weren't as good," said James, a National Merit Scholar.
FairTest contends fewer girls received the National Merit awards, despite earning better grades in high school and college taking identical courses to their male counterparts. "Despite the fact they get the same grades and take the same courses, there was a huge gender gap on the testing," Schae-ffer said.
FairTest has filed a complaint with the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Civil Rights charging two test preparation companies with gender discrimination for their role in the National Merit Scholarship competition. The matter is under investigation.