Deck 23: Appendix:education: Problems and Performance

Question 1

The parents of children in charter schools are

A)mostly white and almost exclusively high-income recipients.
B)less satisfied with their children's schools than are parents of children in traditional public schools.
C)about equally satisfied with their children's schools as are parents of children in traditional public schools.
D)more satisfied with their children's schools than are parents of children in traditional public schools.

Answer 1

D

Question 2

Which of the following has been raised as a criticism of school voucher programs?

A)The primary beneficiaries of voucher programs would be low-income families since they can now send their children to private schools.
B)Voucher programs would cause salaries for outstanding teachers to fall.
C)Funding for public schools would decline, which would cause their quality to deteriorate.
D)Voucher programs would cause the level of competition between public and private schools to fall.

Answer 2

C

Question 3

Which of the following is true?

A)The current achievement scores of American students are lower than during the late 1960s.
B)Real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools has changed little since the 1960s.
C)The achievement scores of American students are higher than those of students in most developed countries.
D)Real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools has declined since the 1960s.

Answer 3

A

Question 4

Public elementary and secondary school administrators have a strong incentive to

A)attempt to increase their funding levels.
B)be efficient since their budgets are determined by politicians.
C)cater to the preferences of students and parents.
D)do all of the above.

Question 5

The achievement scores of American students are ____ than those of students in most developed countries, and spending per elementary student in the United States is ____ than that of most developed countries.

A)higher; less
B)higher; greater
C)lower; greater
D)lower; less

Question 6

A school voucher program targeted towards low- and middle-income families would cause

A)racial and economic segregation among schools to fall.
B)per-pupil funding in the public schools to fall.
C)salaries for outstanding teachers to fall.
D)competition between public and private schools to fall.

Question 7

Between the late 1960s and 2009, the achievement scores of American students

A)fell.
B)did not change.
C)rose slightly.
D)rose substantially.

Question 8

Which of the following is true?

A)Real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools has fallen since 1970.
B)Spending per student in American public elementary schools is lower than that of most developed countries.
C)The achievement scores of American students are lower than those of students in most developed countries.
D)The achievement scores of American students have risen since the late 1960s.

Question 9

Increasing competition between schools will tend to

A)increase their cost.
B)decrease their cost.
C)decrease their quality.
D)do both b and c.

Question 10

When the government both provides education and covers its costs through taxation, economic analysis indicates that

A)the government-operated schools can be expected to supply a high quality education at a low cost.
B)parents will be in a strong position to discipline poorly performing schools and make sure that the school their child attends is providing quality schooling.
C)public school administrators can be expected to care more about pleasing parents than about pleasing government officials and teachers' unions.
D)the parent/consumer will be in a weak position to make choices that will assure that their child receives a quality education at an economical cost.

Question 11

Spending per elementary student in the United States is ____ than that of most developed countries, and real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools has ____ between 1970 and 2009.

A)greater; fallen
B)greater; risen
C)less; risen
D)less; fallen

Question 12

Between 1970 and 2009, the achievement scores of American students ____, and real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools ____.

A)rose; fell
B)rose; rose
C)fell; rose
D)fell; fell

Question 13

When a good or service is supplied under competitive conditions, economic analysis indicates that with the passage of time, the quality of the product will

A)tend to improve, but its real price will generally rise.
B)tend to improve, and its real price will generally fall.
C)decline, and its real price will generally rise.
D)decline, and its real price will fall.

Question 14

Compared to a system based on customer choice and competition, the current structure of the educational system tends to ____ education costs and ____ the quality of education.

A)lower; lower
B)lower; raise
C)raise; lower
D)raise; raise

Question 15

Which of the following is true?

A)Real spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools has fallen significantly since 1970.
B)Spending per student in American public elementary and secondary schools is higher than that of most developed countries.
C)The achievement scores of American students are higher than those of students in most developed countries.
D)The achievement scores of American students have risen since the late 1960s.

Question 16

Compared to U.S. elementary and secondary schools, the international standing of U.S. colleges and universities is

A)much lower.
B)slightly lower.
C)virtually the same.
D)much higher.

Question 17

The achievement scores of American students are ____ than those of students in most developed countries and the achievement scores of American students have ____ since the late 1960s.

A)higher; fallen
B)higher; risen
C)lower; risen
D)lower; fallen

Question 18

Which of the following is true?

A)Public school administrators have strong economic incentives to operate efficiently.
B)Increasing the competition between public and private schools tends to lower both the cost and quality of schools.
C)Competition between public and private schools is relatively low at the elementary and secondary level.
D)Competition among schools is less intense at the college level than is the case at the elementary and secondary level.

Question 19

A school voucher program targeted towards low- and middle-income families would cause

A)racial and economic segregation among schools to fall.
B)per-pupil funding in the public schools to fall.
C)salaries for outstanding teachers to fall.
D)competition among schools to fall.

Question 20

Spending per student in American public elementary schools is ____ than that of most developed countries.

A)substantially less
B)slightly less
C)slightly more
D)substantially more

Question 21

During the 2009-2010 school year, how many students attended charter schools?

A)250,000
B)700,000
C)1,100,000
D)1,600,000

Question 22

When the government both provides education and covers its costs through taxation,

A)public schools have a strong incentive to supply a high quality education at a low cost.
B)parents are in a weak position to either discipline poorly performing schools or alter the quantity or quality of schooling provided.
C)competition between schools is greatly enhanced relative to a system of privately produced and funded education.
D)public school administrators are driven to care more about pleasing parents than about pleasing teachers' unions.

Question 23

School voucher programs

A)make it possible for a broader range of consumers to obtain education more consistent with their preferences.
B)are strongly supported by teachers unions because they increase the demand for and earnings of quality teachers.
C)are strongly opposed by parents because they are pretty much satisfied with the quality of the schools currently available.
D)reduce the educational options available to students and parents.

Question 24

The incentive of schools to provide a high quality education at a low cost and the incentive of parents and students to shop around for the best schools will be weakest when education is produced

A)privately but paid for by taxpayers and provided free of charge.
B)by public schools and the cost of education is covered by taxes.
C)privately and parents must purchase it with their own money.
D)by public schools and parents purchase it with their own money.

Question 25

When compared to the achievement scores of students in other nations, U.S. students are

A)well-below average.
B)well-above average.
C)about average.
D)above average in mathematics, but below average in science.

Question 26

In 2005, average spending per pupil in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States was approximately

A)$4,585.
B)$6,585.
C)$8,585.
D)$10,585.

Question 27

Which of the following is true?

A)The impact of charter schools on student achievement is inconclusive.
B)Most parents of students in charter schools indicate they are dissatisfied with their children's schools.
C)Charter schools are more racially segregated than traditional public schools.
D)Charter schools tend to reduce the level of competition between schools.

Question 28

Which of the following is true of charter schools and voucher programs?

A)The students in these programs have clearly registered larger improvements in achievement scores than similar students in regular public schools.
B)As these programs have expanded, there has been a decline in the real expenditures per student in regular public schools.
C)As these programs have expanded, the unionization of teachers has increased because of the more intense competition in the education industry.
D)Parents with children in these programs report a higher degree of satisfaction with their schools than parents in regular public schools.

Question 29

Relative to other countries, U.S. spending per pupil for public elementary and secondary education is

A)among the lowest in the world.
B)roughly average when compared with other countries.
C)among the highest in the world.
D)higher than in most other developed countries but less than in developing countries.

Question 30

Which of the following is true?

A)The achievement scores of African-American students tend to be lower after one to two years in voucher programs.
B)Most parents of students in charter schools and voucher programs indicate they are dissatisfied with their children's schools.
C)Voucher programs targeted at low- and middle-income families will tend to decrease racial integration in highly segregated communities.
D)The impact of charter schools on student achievement is inconclusive.

Question 31

In 2010, how many states permitted public school choice in some or all school districts?

A)10
B)30
C)40
D)45

Question 32

Spending per pupil is higher in the United States than in

A)Japan.
B)Australia.
C)Belgium.
D)all of the above.

Question 33

A school voucher program targeted towards low- and middle-income families would cause

A)racial and economic segregation among schools to rise.
B)per-pupil funding in the public schools to fall.
C)salaries for outstanding teachers to rise.
D)competition between public and private schools to fall.

Question 34

If elementary and secondary schooling were produced entirely by private firms and purchased by parents with their own money,

A)parents would have a strong incentive to search out those schools offering their children the best education at the best value.
B)schools would better cater to the desires of parents and supply education more efficiently.
C)schools would face much stronger competition from one another that would tend to increase the quality of schooling.
D)all of the above would occur.

Question 35

Which of the following will most clearly increase the competitiveness among schools and expand the educational options available to students and parents?

A)Charter schools and voucher programs.
B)An increase in public school expenditures per pupil.
C)Requirements that public school teachers take more education classes.
D)Regulations mandating limits on the number of students per class.

Question 36

Recent studies indicate that the achievement scores of

A)students in charter schools are much higher than those of students in traditional public schools.
B)African-American students tend to be higher after one to two years in voucher programs.
C)students in charter schools are stable over time.
D)students in charter schools are lower after two to four years.

Question 37

Which of the following is true?

A)A school voucher program targeted towards low- and middle-income families would cause an increase in the degree of racial and economic segregation among schools.
B)Charter schools are often operated by religious organizations.
C)An expansion in school voucher programs would tend to increase the salaries of excellent teachers.
D)School voucher programs would reduce the degree of competition between public and private schools.

Question 38

Which of the following is true?

A)The achievement scores of African-American students tend to be higher after one to two years in voucher programs.
B)Most parents of students in charter schools and voucher programs indicate they are dissatisfied with their children's schools.
C)Voucher programs targeted at low- and middle-income families tend to increase racial segregation in schools in highly segregated communities.
D)Achievement scores of students in charter schools are much higher than those of students in traditional public schools.

Question 39

After correcting for inflation, spending per pupil in public elementary and secondary schools in the United States over the last three decades has

A)more than doubled.
B)fallen dramatically.
C)remained roughly constant.
D)increased, but only slightly.

Question 40

Which of the following is true regarding the average achievement (SAT) scores of high school graduates in the United States?

A)The average achievement (SAT) scores of high school graduates fell during the 1970s.
B)The average achievement (SAT) scores of high school graduates is lower today than it was 35 years ago.
C)The average achievement (SAT) scores of high school graduates rose slightly during the 1990s.
D)All of the above are true.

Question 41

Which of the following is true about a voucher system?

A)A voucher system is one in which parents receive a certificate equal to the current value of educational expenditures per pupil at their school, and the parents may then use this voucher to finance their child's education at any school (public or private) of their choice.
B)Under a voucher system, competition would be greatly increased among schools as they compete for students.
C)Under a voucher system, the quality of teachers and the diversity of school program offerings would increase.
D)All of the above are true.

Question 42

What are charter schools? How do they differ from voucher programs?

Question 43

What are some of the criticisms of voucher programs? How would a voucher program be modified to address these concerns?

Question 44

Competition between public and private schools is ____ at the college level than at the elementary and secondary level.

A)weaker
B)of similar intensity
C)stronger
D)less important

Question 45

Which of the following is true with regard to the lower achievement scores of American students compared to students in most developed countries?

A)Teacher salaries in the United States are not as high as in most other developed countries.
B)Spending per elementary student in the U.S. is less than that of most developed countries.
C)There is no obvious link between expenditures on education and student performance on standardized tests.
D)American students are not as smart as they were a generation ago.

Question 46

During the 2008-2009 school year, approximately how many students attended a charter school?

A)100,000
B)600,000
C)1,400,000
D)2,100,000

Question 47

Since 1970, real spending per student in American public elementary schools has

A)fallen substantially.
B)fallen modestly.
C)not changed.
D)doubled

Question 48

Which of the following is true?

A)The achievement scores of African-American students tend to be higher after one or two years in voucher programs.
B)Most parents of students in charter schools and voucher programs indicate they are highly satisfied with their children's schools.
C)Targeted voucher programs tend to decrease racial segregation in schools in highly segregated communities.
D)All of the above are true.

Question 49

What is a major objection that is usually raised against a voucher system?

A)Students attending private schools tend to outperform their public school counterparts on standardized tests.
B)Voucher programs would primarily benefit low-income families.
C)Voucher programs will create a more heterogeneous student population.
D)Voucher programs would drain funds away from the public schools, and thereby cause their quality to decrease.

Question 50

In contrast to schools in a voucher system, charter schools are

A)not allowed to be religious schools.
B)not allowed to charge tuition.
C)not exempt from a variety of standards including financial, safety, and educational outcomes.
D)All of the above apply to charter schools.

Question 51

Which of the following is true?

A)A school voucher program targeted towards low- and middle-income families would cause racial and economic segregation among schools to rise.
B)In contrast with other public schools, charter schools are generally operated by religious organizations.
C)School voucher programs increase the salaries of excellent teachers.
D)School voucher programs decrease the diversity of schooling options.

Question 52

In the U.S. higher educational system, students and parents have choices as to which college or university the student attends and generally must finance part of it from personal funds. As a result of this different incentive structure, the U.S. higher educational system is

A)one of the best in the world.
B)one of the worst in the world.
C)about average when compared to other higher educational systems.
D)relatively worse in international rankings than U.S. elementary and secondary education.

Question 53

What best explains why so many children attend public schools, instead of private schools?\

A)Public schools provide a significantly better education, as measured by SAT scores.
B)Public schools have nicer facilities and better sports programs.
C)When a student attends a public school they do not have to pay tuition.
D)Private schools have catered only to the wealthy and therefore ordinary Americans would not be welcome in private schools.

Question 54

What does the evidence suggest regarding the effects of school choice programs?

Question 55

Charter schools are

A)privately funded schools
B)typically religious schools
C)non-traditional schools funded and operated by the government
D)government operated schools that compete with private schools by charging tuition and providing competitive services.

Question 56

The combined SAT scores of American students is

A)higher today than 40 years ago.
B)approximately the same as 40 years ago.
C)significantly lower than in 1970.
D)rising rapidly due to improved educational surroundings and technology.

Question 57

Voucher programs appear to ____ the achievement scores of African-American students after one to two years in the program and they tend to ____ racial integration in highly segregated communities.

A)decrease; decrease
B)decrease; increase
C)increase; decrease
D)increase; increase

Question 58

"Increasing competition between schools will tend to lower both the cost and quality of education." Is this statement true or false?

Question 59

In 2008, how many states permitted public school choice in some or all school districts?

A)25
B)30
C)35
D)40

Question 60

Which of the following factors helps explain why public school administrators have little economic incentive to operate efficiently?

A)Public schools have substantial monopoly power.
B)The funding levels for public schools are determined by politicians rather than directly by consumers.
C)It is expensive for consumers to switch from a public to a private school.
D)All of the above are true.