Teachers in a high school social studies department are developing school learning goals that address State Board of Education benchmarks related to a standard on preparing students to participate as active and engaged citizens. One of the benchmarks states that students will "Evaluate, take, and defend positions on issues that cause the government to balance the interests of individuals with the public good."

The teachers can best address this benchmark by developing learning goals focused on promoting students'

• 1. self-determination skills.

• goal-setting skills.

• 1. problem-solving skills.

• critical-thinking skills.

A principal wants to plan professional development activities for teachers aimed at reversing a school trend toward declining scores on the statewide reading assessment. The principal can most effectively begin the planning process by taking which of the following actions first?

• 1. analyzing test data to identify specific reading skills needing improvement or subgroups of students needing additional support

• 1. reviewing materials disseminated by the state about the types of questions and tasks that appear on the reading assessment

• identifying high-quality teacher resources aimed at improving reading instruction that are available in the school or district

• 1. meeting with small groups of teachers to elicit information about the methods they currently use to promote student reading skills

Three years ago a middle school implemented a new mathematics program. Following are some data derived from the school's scores on the statewide mathematics assessment for the last three years.

After reviewing these data, the middle school principal should place the highest priority on answering which of the following questions?

• 1. Should the school investigate other mathematics programs that may maximize mathematics gains for all student groups?

• 1. How can the achievement gap in mathematics performance between the total group and the subgroup be closed?

• 1. What factors were most important in promoting improvement in the school's overall performance in mathematics?

• 1. Has there been a significant change in recent years in the number of students in the total group and the subgroup?

School administrators are in the process of designing a data report that will be used to communicate standardized assessment results to classroom teachers. The reports are likely to be most useful in facilitating and improving the teachers' instructional planning if they

• include information about each student's performance on each section of a test.

• incorporate a variety of summary statistics, such as mean, range, and standard deviation, to characterize student scores.

• compare an individual's current performance to performance on previous tests.

• provide an indication of how each class performed on each test question compared with other classes at the same grade level.

A principal has established grade-level teacher teams to provide teachers with professional support and improve school performance. A key school goal at this time is to "set and achieve high academic expectations for every student." In observing the teacher teams in action, the principal can best ensure that they are effectively striving to meet this goal if team members place the greatest emphasis on discussing ways to

• determine the skills and content that are most important for students to master.

• 1. provide students with enhanced opportunities to practice and improve their test-taking skills.

• 1. create meaningful incentives that encourage students to work to their potential.

• respond to students who are progressing at different rates in the classroom.

A recently hired principal at a low-performing school wishes to create a school climate that fosters strong academic achievement for all students. Which of the following approaches by the principal would best help promote attainment of this goal?

• 1. using a variety of means to communicate a vision of high expectations for students and faculty on a regular basis

• guiding faculty to give students ample flexibility in determining what they will learn and how they will learn it

• 1. providing meaningful incentives to reward faculty when a specified proportion of their students meet expectations

• 1. prompting faculty to offer students a mix of individual, small-group, and whole-class learning opportunities

A principal, who has been reviewing student scores on the statewide assessment, is concerned about a significant and rapid decline in the performance of students from a subgroup in the school. The principal's best initial response would be to involve faculty and staff in

• 1. identifying additional human or other resources that would be expected to improve the students' performance.

• determining specific factors that are likely to be causing or contributing to the observed student trend.

• analyzing the extent to which the problematic test results reflect the students' true skills and abilities

• 1. evaluating the match between the school curriculum and the content that is covered on the students' tests.

Part of structuring a school environment that considers diversity and improves learning for all student populations, is ensuring curriculum integrates ethnic content. Banks’ Approaches to Multicultural Curriculum Reform includes four levels of ethnic content integration. Of the following, which is the fourth level?

• 
  

  The Contributions Approach

• The Additive Approach.

• The Transformation Approach.

• The Social Action Approach.

The principal is taking the time to talk to the teachers about different types of assessments. He is currently talking about diagnostic assessments. Which is true about a diagnostic assessment?

• 
  They help a teacher include diversity into their teachings.

• They help a teacher determine a student's strengths and weaknesses.

• They are used to determine a student's final grade.

• They are used as an entrance exam.

The principal has learned that he will need to hire 6 new employees for the upcoming school year. He knows the recruitment process has now started. When does the recruitment process begin?

• 
  Once the new school year starts

• When the principal hires someone

• Once it is realized that someone new needs to be hired.

• Once the interviews begin.