Standards: Gap Analysis
Identify gaps in standards coverage and provide recommendations for filling them.
When to Use
- Mid-year curriculum review
- Curriculum audit before testing
- New teacher assessment of materials
- Textbook evaluation
- Scope and sequence validation
Gap Analysis Components
1. Coverage Identification
Determine:
- ✓ Covered: Standard addressed in curriculum
- ⚠ Partially Covered: Standard mentioned but insufficient depth
- ✗ Not Covered: Standard missing entirely
2. Depth Analysis
Assess Rigor:
- Surface: Mentioned only
- Developing: Some instruction/practice
- Proficient: Thorough instruction, multiple practice opportunities
- Advanced: Mastery expected, rigorous assessment
DOK/Bloom's Level:
- Does coverage match required cognitive level?
- Are assessments at appropriate complexity?
3. Time Allocation
Coverage Duration:
- Minutes/hours spent on standard
- Number of lessons addressing it
- Practice opportunities
- Assessment items
4. Balance Analysis
Distribution:
- Are all domains/strands proportionally covered?
- Do coverage percentages match test blueprints?
- Are foundational standards prioritized?
Gap Types
Critical Gaps
High-Stakes Standards:
- Heavily weighted on state tests
- Prerequisites for future learning
- Grade-level essential content
Impact: Immediate remediation needed
Important Gaps
Significant Standards:
- Assessed but lower weight
- Supporting standards
- Enrichment opportunities
Impact: Should address before year end
Minor Gaps
Supplementary Standards:
- Optional extensions
- Enrichment only
- Less critical for assessment
Impact: Address if time permits
Prioritization Matrix
| Coverage | Test Weight | Priority |
|---|---|---|
| Missing | High | Critical - Address immediately |
| Partial | High | High - Deepen coverage |
| Missing | Medium | Medium - Add if possible |
| Partial | Medium | Low - Enhance if time |
| Missing | Low | Optional - Enrichment only |
Recommendations
Filling Gaps
Strategies by Gap Size:
Large Gaps (missing entire domain):
- Add new unit or extended lessons
- Reteach/introduce
- Consider summer school or intervention
Medium Gaps (missing some standards):
- Supplemental lessons
- Integrated practice
- Homework emphasis
Small Gaps (insufficient depth):
- Additional practice problems
- Deeper questioning
- More rigorous assessments
Curriculum Pacing Adjustment
Time Reallocation
If Behind:
- Identify over-covered standards
- Reduce time on low-priority standards
- Combine related standards
- Streamline activities
Catch-Up Strategies:
- Spiral review (integrate into ongoing lessons)
- Homework/extension focus
- Intervention groups
- Technology/independent practice
CLI Interface
# Basic gap analysis
/standards.gap-analysis --curriculum "7th-grade-math/" --standards "Common-Core-Math-7"
# With prioritization
/standards.gap-analysis --content "ela-curriculum/" --standards "CCSS-ELA-8" --prioritize --test-blueprint "state-test-weights.json"
# Mid-year check
/standards.gap-analysis --taught-so-far "lessons/week-1-20/" --standards "TEKS-Science-7" --date "January" --remaining-weeks "18"
# Multi-teacher comparison
/standards.gap-analysis --compare-teachers --teacher-a "teacher1/lessons/" --teacher-b "teacher2/lessons/" --standards "State-Math-6"
# Generate action plan
/standards.gap-analysis --curriculum "social-studies/" --standards "C3-Framework-8" --action-plan --timeline "10-weeks"Output
- Standards coverage matrix
- Gap identification (critical/important/minor)
- Priority recommendations
- Suggested lessons/activities for gaps
- Revised pacing guide
- Action plan with timeline
Composition
Input from: /standards.us-state-mapper, /standards.subject-standards, /curriculum.design Works with: /standards.coverage-validator, /curriculum.iterate-feedback Output to: Remediation plans, pacing adjustments
Exit Codes
- 0: Gap analysis complete
- 1: Insufficient curriculum data
- 2: Standards framework mismatch
- 3: Critical gaps identified (>20% missing)