Is Recalibrating Advanced Placement Exams Defining Deviancy Down?

Written by Bruno V. Manno for RealClearEducation, growing up in an Italian American neighborhood taught him the importance of deviance. He later learned from Emile Durkheim that deviance serves important societal functions. Fast forward to 1993, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan’s essay “Defining Deviancy Down” discussed societal shifts in defining deviance. Chester E. Finn, Jr. suggests that the AP exam score recalibration controversy exemplifies this concept. The College Board’s recent changes to the scoring process have sparked debate, with some praising the move while others criticize it for lack of transparency and potential financial motivations. Moynihan’s words ring true as society grapples with evolving norms and standards. There could be valid justifications for the College Board’s updated AP scoring methodology. However, it is essential for the organization to enhance transparency to reassure supporters of the AP program. This increased transparency may help alleviate concerns that the new approach is simply a way to lower standards in response to external pressures. Only time will reveal the true impact of these changes.