Blacks on average continue to score about 200 points below whites on the Scholastic Assessment Tests, but the racial scoring gap is much lower in some states than others. In some states, however, notably California, the gap is widening, giving rise to concerns for college admissions for African Americans. (SLD)

During the 1978-79 school year, all third grade pupils in California public schools were tested in reading achievement. Tests of reading, written expression, spelling, and mathematics were administered to all sixth and twelfth graders. Various subtests of the Survey of Basic Skills, which was developed specifically for the California Assessment…