Response to Solano-Flores: How Serious are We About Fairness in Testing and How Far are We Willing to Go?

ABSTRACT

It Ain't Near 'Bout Fair: Re-envisioning the Bias and Sensitivity Review Process from a Justice-Oriented Antiracist Perspective was intended to facilitate conversation in the field about the bias and sensitivity process, specifically. I argue that our current approaches rely far too heavily on fear-based notions to the exclusion of justice-based aims. As Dr. Solano-Flores points out, however, this conversation must be considered in concert with a larger conversation around principles of equity and justice in the assessment design and development process in order for the necessary transformational change to occur. In this paper, I consider Dr. Solano-Flores’ ideas and suggest a path forward with these ideas in mind.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

¹ The use of the term rules here as opposed to guidelines is an intentional choice. The word guidelines is more synonymous with recommendations, rather than mandates. And, indeed, I am ultimately advocating for mandatory justice-oriented changes in our professional practice.