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

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:

1. Identify over-covered standards
2. Reduce time on low-priority standards
3. Combine related standards
4. 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)