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)