Deck 3: What Are the Proposals for School Reform

Question 1

Modification in schools and school practices are a reflection of

A) changes in technology and learning theory.
B) changes in teacher education training programs.
C) diverse populations in the schools.
D) larger societal changes.
E) A and B but not C

Answer 1

larger societal changes.

Question 2

The dangers of not becoming aware of school reform initiatives include

A) your work environment being influenced by views you do not share.
B) inability to influence legislation.
C) a lack of input in critical issues.
D) all of the above
E) B and C only

Answer 2

all of the above

Question 3

The effort to attack many variables at the same time is called

A) systemic reform.
B) school choice.
C) simultaneity.
D) No Child Left Behind Legislation.

Answer 3

systemic reform.

Question 4

Systemic reform

A) is too costly to be a reality.
B) was the main reason test scores dropped.
C) has been proven to slow the educational process.
D) is occurring in response to new technology and ideas about learning.

Question 5

A Nation at Risk

A) provided data that drives public perception and educational policy.
B) perpetuated the myth that schools of the past were excellent but now are poor.
C) detailed potential threats to the nation through terrorist activities.
D) explained potential threats to educational politics of the nation.

Question 6

________ implies that parents/guardians should be able to select a school from among alternatives.

A) School reform
B) School choice
C) Magnet schools
D) No Child Left Behind

Question 7

________ allows parents/guardians of learners the opportunity to shop for the school they wish for the child to attend.

A) Vouchers
B) School reform
C) No Child Left Behind
D) School choice

Question 8

Systemic reform might include

A) school choice.
B) redesigned teacher compensation schemes.
C) implementation of Federal Comprehensive School Reform Demonstration Programs.
D) outcomes of education rather than inputs.
E) all of these

Question 9

________ schools are semiautonomous public schools that are freed from many state regulations.

A) Charter
B) Magnet
C) Church
D) Community

Question 10

________ schools usually appeal to like minded students who have a common interest in the theme on which the school focuses its instruction.

A) Community
B) Charter
C) Church
D) Magnet

Question 11

An example of school choice is

A) charter schools being formed that accept students from all over the school district.
B) parents receiving a voucher to pay for the student to attend private school.
C) a student attending a magnet school that specializes in something they are interested in.
D) all of these
E) A and B but not C

Question 12

A disadvantage of school choice is

A) competition among schools may attract a variety of learners.
B) to stay open schools that have difficulty will have to improve.
C) low income students may be able to avoid mediocre schools.
D) schools in great need of funding might be further short-changed.

Question 13

Annual testing of all learners in specified subjects in grades 3 - 8 is a requirement of

A) NCLB.
B) NEA.
C) NCATE.
D) all of the above

Question 14

A parent or guardian of a learner can elect to move the child to another school if

A) the school does not give parents and annual student progress report.
B) the student does not pass end-of-grade tests.
C) the child is not being taught by a qualified teacher.
D) the school fails to meet achievement targets.

Question 15

Open enrollment plans facilitate school choice by allowing parents/guardians of learners to

A) enroll the child in any school within the district, within restrictions.
B) enroll the child in any school within the district with restrictions.
C) enroll the child in any school without restrictions.
D) enroll the child in any school.
E) none of the above

Question 16

Highly qualified teachers are teachers that have

A) completed the core curriculum studies with a grade of "B" or above.
B) passed rigorous subject-matter examinations.
C) met all of the requirements of the college or university Teacher Education Program.
D) met all the requirements of the state licensing agency.
E) A and C only

Question 17

________ support has been a significant factor in the spread of tech-prep programs.

A) Technology
B) Bill Gates'
C) Business
D) Industry

Question 18

Current teacher pay structures are based on

A) meeting professional benchmarks.
B) years of teaching experience.
C) degrees beyond a bachelor's degree.
D) all of these
E) A and B but not C

Question 19

Tech-prep programs span the following four years:

A) grades 9-13.
B) the four years of college.
C) the last two years of college and two years of graduate school.
D) grades 10-12 and the first two years of college.

Question 20

Merit pay is

A) teachers meeting professional benchmarks.
B) adding degrees beyond a bachelor's.
C) teaching more years.
D) additional pay based on student performance.
E) all of these

Question 21

Knowledge-and skills-based pay

A) rewards teachers for gaining additional knowledge and/or skills.
B) is based on knowledge a teacher brings to the classroom.
C) is based on the knowledge students leave the classroom with.
D) rewards teachers for scoring high on the PRAXIS exam.

Question 22

The No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 requires

A) documentation of learner progress.
B) that every state adopt standards and publish report cards.
C) that every teacher be "highly qualified."
D) all of these

Question 23

School-business partnerships

A) provide a market for business interests.
B) replace boards of education with business advisory boards.
C) strengthen local schools so that potential employees will be better prepared for work.
D) pay for teacher salaries.

Question 24

More and more politicians are discovering the education and the issues surround it, resonate with the public. As a result they have been quick to

A) target key issues for their political campaigns.
B) propose legislation that remediate's the situation.
C) propose legislation the purports to improve the schools.
D) provide the funds needed for school reform.

Question 25

Full service schools

A) run year round to match the schedule of most workers in the U.S.
B) have technical career training programs that allow students to choose courses like child care, medical assisting, construction, etc.
C) have specialists that provide support for families such as after-school care, medical and dental examinations, adult education, social work, legal services, drug and alcohol prevention, counseling services, and emergency treatment and crisis-reaction services.
D) none of these

Question 26

The publication A Nation At Risk detailed potential threats to the nation that might follow declines in test scores and increase in drop-out rates. The report concluded that

A) schools and college have made a significant historical contribution, but are now failing.
B) the educational foundations of our society are being eroded by a rising tide of mediocrity.
C) both A and B
D) neither A nor B

Question 27

The argument to make public learners' test scores of required tests presumes that

A) low test scores are a reliable indicator of problem schools.
B) public disclosure will improve teachers' level of performance.
C) both A and B

Question 28

Arguments against public disclosure of required tests say poor performance on test requires answers to questions such as:

A) Were families meeting the learners' nutritional needs?
B) Was teaching appropriate?
C) Was the test aligned with the curriculum?
D) none of the above
E) all of the above

Question 29

One of the most controversial outcomes of the reform efforts of the 1980s, 1990s, and early 2000s has been the increased emphasis on

A) charter schools.
B) site-based management.
C) accountability issues.
D) differentiated staffing.

Question 30

The debate between output and input goals has motivated national subject-area specialty organizations

A) to intervene in the debate and develop position papers.
B) to provide training for teachers.
C) to recommend resources to realize learning outcomes.
D) to identify high-quality learning outcomes for subject areas.

Question 31

Today, the trend in educational circles is

A) a shift from outcome goals to behavioral goals.
B) a shift from outcome goals to input goals.
C) a shift from behavioral objectives to input goals.
D) a shift from input goals to outcome goals.

Question 32

Schools that respond proactively to multiple problems are practicing the concept of

A) simultaneity.
B) publicness.
C) authentic assessment.
D) systemic reform.

Question 33

________ is an example of authentic assessment.

A) Having students read a story
B) Having students perform (e.g., dance, musical instrument, etc.)
C) Having students write an essay
D) Having students take a multiple choice test

Question 34

Teachers have not always endorsed the concept of merit pay because

A) standards have not been developed to allow individuals to evaluate teachers.
B) decisions are often based on personality rather than effective instruction.
C) it requires results from standardized tests.
D) student evaluation of teachers is unreliable.

Question 35

Input goals

A) might be part of the refurbishing of the public areas in the school.
B) relate to the reading program that the schools uses.
C) might include the new laptops that will be used.
D) all of these
E) none of these

Question 36

The authors state that "it is quite clear that the threats that were cited in the report (A Nation at Risk) have not materialized." The students will justify the continued reliance on the report's recommendations to influence public perceptions, or argue the case for no justification.

Question 37

Define systemic reform and list the most important characteristics.

Question 38

Ask the students, "Would merit pay motivate you to do a better job?" First they will explain "Merit Pay" then answer the question, explaining why or why not.

Question 39

Describe school-business partnerships then speculate as to whether or not they are self-serving or altruistic ventures.

Question 40

Define school choice and then list some advantages and disadvantages for learners.

Question 41

Tell the students, "Based upon your observation of NCLB, has it had the desired effect?" First they will define NCLB, and then cite observations of it in practice. If they are not familiar with NCLB, they then research case studies to answer the question.

Question 42

How might the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 influence schools and school practices?

Question 43

Students describe characteristics of full service schools, then compare the full service school to the one that they attended, stating which they prefer to teach in and why?

Question 44

Does authentic assessment test the knowledge that students need to pass required tests? Defend your answer.

Question 45

Should teachers teach to the test? Using the Educators Code defend your answer.