How did tracking and streaming place students into different groups based on age or ability?

In the context of teacher education, students are typically organized by age into grades, classes, or forms. Beyond this age-based structure, schools often implement streaming or tracking to group students by ability, creating separate classes for those perceived as more or less able.12

Tracking specifically refers to the assignment of students to a particular curricular track. This practice often utilizes formal tests to determine placement. In the United States, this has historically involved separating students into classrooms or courses based on actual or perceived ability levels.312

These systems have faced significant criticism and legal challenges. Critics argue that tracking can be rigid and may lead to segregation along racial or socioeconomic lines, often providing students in lower-level tracks with a substantially different curriculum. Legal rulings, such as Hobson v. Hansen (1967), have addressed the discriminatory application of these practices, emphasizing that grouping must serve legitimate educational objectives rather than perpetuating inequality. Consequently, many educators advocate for more flexible approaches, such as team teaching or nongraded systems, to better support diverse student needs without the negative impacts of rigid segregation.12