Academic outcomes This study used 2008 SIMCE scores to measure academic out-comes. Every year, SIMCE collects test data to learn if students have acquired a standard of competency in math, reading, and social sciences, based on the government-established national curriculum. The fourth-grade test assesses the minimum mandatory content of the first cycle of elementary education (first to fourth grades). In 2008, each test had four forms and included multiple-choice and open-ended questions. SIMCE tests use Item Response Theory (IRT) and are designed to have an average score of 250 with an SD of 50. In 2008, the average score on the reading test was 260(SD = 54), in math the average score was 247 (SD = 55), and in social sciences the average score was 250 (SD = 50) (MINEDUC, 2009).Comparing tests scores among the five SES groups SIMCE shows an important achievement gap. For example, while the average reading score for children from the high-income group was 303, theaverage for children belonging to the low-income group was 240.That is a difference of 1.26 SD.