SUMMARY
Daniel worked as a Curriculum Development Fellow with Admission Squad, an organization dedicated to helping high-achieving middle school students gain admission to top NYC high schools, colleges, and exposure to leading careers. Daniel contributed to the development of a culturally responsive SAT test prep curriculum designed to meet the needs of Black and Brown New York City youth.
OVERVIEW
Conducted comprehensive research on the SAT, including topic and skill breakdowns, question type percentages, and the format of the new Digital SAT.
Researched effective teaching methods and lesson structures for specialized content delivery.
Developed mock SAT questions contextualized within the lived experiences of Black and Brown New York City students to enhance cultural relevance and engagement.
Created a 15-week curriculum map covering 30 unique SAT topics and skills, including 12 SAT math lesson slide decks (covering 19 topics) and 10 SAT English lesson slide decks (covering 11 topics).
IMPACT
Daniel’s curriculum development is expected to impact approximately 200 high school-aged students when the program is implemented in summer 2025.
In his blog, Daniel Mesa-Buitrago, a Summer 2024 Fellow working with AdmissionSquad, explores the troubling history of standardized testing and its impact on cultural competence. He sheds light on how the SAT’s origins in racist ideology persistently affect test outcomes and advocates for culturally relevant SAT prep to support equitable educational opportunities for Black and Brown communities.