CHAPTER 9

School districts rely on revenue generated from a variety of taxes-including sales taxes, property taxes, and income taxes - which generated how much total revenue for public schools in the fiscal year 2013?

$600 billion

While the U.S. Constitution does not say anything specifically about education, which of the following has been interpreted as giving power to the states?

10th amendment

American public schools receive funding from local, state, and federal sources, with approximately what equal percentage of funding coming from state and local governments?

45 percent each

According to the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), states need to identify and intervene when high school graduation rates are at or below what percent?

67 percent

A person who is supervised by another person has a type of organizational relationship known as A) line. B) staff. C) site-based. D) supporting.

A

In response to No Child Left Behind, Ling Chang, the principal of Thistledale Middle School, knows he must collect data to be distributed on request to parents about the members of his teaching staff. He will satisfy the requirements by having a database prepared that contains all of the following information EXCEPT: A) proof of the scores attained by the teacher on required state or Praxis certification tests. B) whether the teacher has met state qualifications and licensing criteria for the grades and subjects taught. C) whether the teacher is teaching under emergency or other provisional status. D) proof of baccalaureate degrees and other graduation certification and their subject areas.

A

Legally, the primary responsibility for education belongs to A) the state. B) the school district. C) the federal government. D) individual schools.

A

NOT: Allowing individual schools within a school district to be involved in decision-making on issues such as budgeting, personnel selection, and curriculum design is called A) school-based management. B) cooperative management. C) management by local objectives. D) diversified management.

A

NOT: No Child Left Behind requires all schools to produce students who are ʺproficientʺ in their performance on standardized achievement tests by the 2013-2014 school year. The schools must disaggregate the scores of students in all of the following subgroups EXCEPT: A) those in gifted programs. B) economically disadvantaged students. C) major racial or ethnic groups. D) students with disabilities.

A

The Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) was first passed by Congress during the presidency of Lyndon Johnson in 1965. The bill has been reauthorized every three or four years since. Each time it has been passed, the scope of the bill has A) been expanded. B) been reduced. C) remained about the same. D) been regulated by the United States Supreme Court.

A

The State Department of Education activity that involves making sure school buses are safe is due to its A) regulatory powers. B) operational powers. C) service powers. D) public support.

A

What has historically been the primary source of local revenue for schools? A) property tax B) federal income tax C) state income tax D) sales tax

A

What is a foundation level? A) the dollar value of basic educational opportunities desired in a state B) the minimum amount of money that the state requires school districts to spend on special education C) the minimum number of students required to permit a school district to exist as a separate entity D) the maximum number of students that a school district may include without splitting into a separate district

A

Which of the following K-12 personnel are educators who are licensed to teach students with special needs and work closely with regular teachers in providing special education services?

Resource room teachers

All of the following are roles performed by an intermediate unit of school organization, EXCEPT: A) providing professional development and in-service B) hiring and firing of school personnel C) maintaining a library of resources for school districts D) providing cooperative special education and vocational-technical services

B

Critics of the self-contained egg-crate concept of traditional school architecture contend that A) too much noise filters in from other teaching areas. B) there is little opportunity for teachers to communicate with one another. C) it is difficult for a teacher to develop a unique learning environment for his or her class. D) it is too easy for teachers to see what occurs in other classes and they become critical of one another's teaching styles.

B

NOT: In law, the final authority at the school site is the A) superintendent. B) principal. C) teachers. D) school board.

B

NOT: Juan Hernandez is the principal of Rio Hondo High School. He is conducting a series of in-service sessions to acquaint his staff with the district's new empowerment policy. He has divided the teachers into groups to discuss the significance of various advantages to the system. His list of advantages should include all of the following EXCEPT: A) the reduction of school district regulatory control of individual schools. B) less accountability for decisions that prove to be unworkable. C) more involvement in personnel selection. D) an increased voice in budget allotment.

B

NOT: Nino Pizzuti is a new teacher in the science department at 35th Street High School. John Brown, one of the veteran teachers in the same department, is frequently late and unprepared for his classes. He has been in the habit of removing teaching resources from the cart Nino uses to assemble the materials required for next day's classes. Even though Nino has discussed the issue several times with John, the problem continues. Nino considers who he should speak to in seeking help to resolve the situation. Normal protocol suggests that the next person he should talk to is A) no one else except John. B) the science department head. C) the teacher union representative. D) the principal

B

NOT: Providing equitable educational opportunities for all students within a state is one of the challenges of education today. You are reading some of the ʺLetters to the Editorʺ in a major newspaper that people have written in response to an article on educational funding. Which of the following statements corresponds to the opinions that have been expressed by court decisions on funding in most states? A) Each student should receive the educational opportunities that the district in which he or she lives can afford to provide. B) Financing of public schools is unjust and in total chaos.. C) State courts have developed new funding plans that they have imposed. D) Equal per pupil expenditures in every district across the state will guarantee equal educational opportunities

B

NOT: The Red River School District is in a rural part of your state. There are few jobs available in the district because the only major employer has closed its antiquated plant in order to move to an area where wages are lower and materials cheaper. You are part of a local group that is concerned that the amount of money available for education in the district is the lowest in the state. You are aware that the courts in many states have ordered a reorganization of school funding to respond to similar situations. In arguing for a different funding system, your group will be able to use all of the following arguments to support your position EXCEPT: A) when the property tax base is low, the amount of money generated is low. B) when property taxes are the major source of income for education all communities benefit equally. C) income taxes are progressive in that the more you earn, the more you pay. D) sales taxes are regressive in that people with lower incomes pay disproportionately more.

B

State foundation programs are designed to provide more equitable funding to all districts within a state. Even though such a system is in place, some districts might still ʺbe more equal than others.ʺ This situation is most likely to occur when the state A) uses sales and income taxes to raise revenue for schools. B) sets foundation levels far below actual per-pupil costs. C) allows teacher strikes in the state. D) requires each district to put forth the same minimum local finance effort.

B

The legality of any interpretation of state law that governs education is determined by the A) state legislature. B) state courts and the attorney general C) governor D) federal district court.

B

The pressure for teacher accountability comes from all of the following EXCEPT: A) the continuous escalation of educational costs. B) the increasing scores of U.S. students on international standardized tests. C) the public's loss of faith in educational results. D) the lower quality of education in large cities and some remote rural areas.

B

What does the foundation concept imply? A) all school districts will receive the same amount of state money per pupil B) equity for taxpayers and equality of opportunity for students C) all school districts will be guaranteed enough money to assist special education students D) equal access to all aspects of the curriculum by the handicapped

B

What type of power do state boards of education have? A) advisory and legislative B) advisory and regulatory C) legislative and regulatory D) regulatory only

B

A major limitation of property tax is A) it lags behind other changes in market values. B) property is not easily moved to escape taxation. C) it tends to discourage rehabilitation and upkeep. D) it taxes the poor too much

C

In most states, superintendents of local school districts are A) appointed by the United States Department of Education. B) elected by the taxpayers. C) hired by the local board of education. D) appointed by the State Board of Education.

C

NOT: One major practical advantages for a school district that organizes one or more of its schools on a year-round schedule is to A) provide students with more days in school per year. B) reduce the number of teachers required in the district. C) increase the number of students that can be handled annually. D) reduce costs of heating and air conditioning during the year.

C

NOT: People who wish to be politically successful in an educational setting have the best chance of success if they A) can rule with an iron fist. B) will always side with the teachersʹ union on issues. C) can effectively talk and negotiate with all parties. D) delay making decisions until pressured to do so.

C

No Child Left Behind identifies schools in need of improvement through A) the average scores of achievement on standardized tests of the entire school population B) the average scores of adequate yearly progress for the entire school population C) the disaggregated scores of adequate yearly progress for all groups within the school population D) the median scores of adequate yearly progress for all groups within the student population

C

Recently the role of the principal has been expanded to include A) instructional leadership. B) better control of students. C) increased parental participation in decision-making. D) public relations.

C

The legal authority for operating local school systems is given to local boards of education through A) the federal Department of Education. B) the governor of the state. C) state legislation. D) the voters in each district.

C

Which of the following serves as a liaison between the state department of education and local school districts? A) developmental units B) operational units C) intermediate units D) regional school boards

C

In most states, the school superintendent A) serves as chairperson of the school board. B) controls the members of the school board. C) has the same level of power as the school board members. D) is the chief executive officer of the school board.

D

NOT: Grayson Donald is a young teacher interested in becoming an administrator. He will most likely increase his chances of promotion if he engages in all of the following activities, EXCEPT: A) continuing to read and research school administration so as to increase his expertise in the area. B) being active in the professional development program of the local teachers' union. C) working with colleagues in one or more special interest groups of a local computer users' group. D) concentrating on developing the best strategies to use in his own classroom.

D

NOT: Schools labeled as low performing or failing schools for five consecutive years under No Child Left Behind, must A) offer pupils from low-income families supplemental educational services. B) replace school staff and/or implement a new curriculum. C) appoint an outside expert advisor. D) restructure, which includes reopening as a charter school.

D

NOT: The Central City School District has a large enrollment of students but has little potential for greater funding because of the low socioeconomic status of the community. The suburban Rolling Hills School District is in a much more affluent area. There are many large homes and prosperous businesses in the community. A convenience store chain has come forward with a proposal to form a business partnership with one of the school districts. The company will install vending machines for fruit drinks and healthy snack foods and will provide a percentage of the profits to the district to help fund the schools. When you consider the potential benefits to the students, all of the following statements are true about this situation EXCEPT: A) Central City presently has less potential for improving resources than Rolling Hills. B) Central City students would benefit more from the arrangement than Rolling Hills students. C) There would likely be more pressure on Central City school board members to accept the company's offer. D) The students in both districts would benefit equally if their district accepted the offer.

D

NOT: The Millhaven School District has hired a management consultant to study its organizational structure and recommend improvements to provide the most effective supervisory structure at Central High School, which has an enrollment of 2,000 students. Which of the following suggestions would be most beneficial in bringing the school more in line with accepted practices in other effective organizations? A) The cafeteria staff should be employees of a private contractor. B) Teachers classrooms should be grouped close to the department chairpersons offices. C) The counselors should meet daily to discuss problems in the school. D) Additional assistant principals should be appointed to help the principal.

D

NOT: The federal government operates school systems directly for all of the following students EXCEPT: A) children of military staff wherever their parents are stationed. B) children in Samoa and U.S. trust territories. C) children of national park employees. D) children of employees of federal defense contractors.

D

NOT: The most effective tool the U.S. Department of Education has for influencing education is through A) direct operating grants to every district. B) textbook purchasing plans. C) salaries paid to teachers. D) the use of grants tied to various mandates

D

One of the shortcomings of the open-space design of school architecture is that A) it encourages teachers to work in isolation. B) it is more difficult for teachers to work cooperatively. C) it is more difficult to group and re-group students for specific purposes. D) the noise makes it difficult for students to focus on their work.

D

The Education Committee of the National Widget Workers Union has decided that it would like to try and influence the state curriculum because it believes students are not receiving appropriate education in the benefits of trade unions. Due to the legal structure of the educational system, the committee would have the best chance of success if it were to focus its efforts on A) individual teachers. B) individual members of the principalsʹ association. C) individual members of local boards of education. D) individual members of the state legislature.

D

The governmental unit empowered by state law to administer the school system of a local community is called the A) local school council. B) intermediate unit. C) state board of education. D) local school board.

D

What is the main advantage of using property tax for school funding? A) It requires the rich to pay more. B) It is insensitive to sudden changes in the stock market. C) It is sensitive to changes in inflation. D) It provides steady, regular income.

D