Balance (1965 - 1990)
The First Decline (1963-1970): Compositional Changes
During the first six or seven years of the decline, the composition of the test-taking population changed dramatically. More students were completing high school and being encouraged to go onto higher education.
Educational policy aimed at extending educational opportunity and eliminating racial discrimination, thereby encouraging more youths who previously would not have considered higher education to take the SAT. College entrance expanded with community colleges and minority recruitment programs, again encouraging more youths to apply for higher education and take the SAT.
The change in the test-taking population contributed to the decline in the mean test scores until 1970 but was not the simple cause.
The Advisory Panel cautioned that the increase in the numbers of lower-scoring youths (primarily the poor and minorities) taking the SAT was not the simple reason for the first decline. Rather, the panel argued that the test score decline reflected the continued unequal educational opportunities afforded minorities and the poor. The panel stated: "What the decline reflects is the incompleteness so far of the national undertaking to afford meaningful equality of educational opportunity."
