NCLB General Principles 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What does the 'disaggregation' requirement under NCLB mandate?
- Reporting test scores separately for student subgroups (Correct answer)
- Separating high- and low-performing students into different schools
- Breaking large schools into smaller units
- Dividing school budgets by student population
Correct answer: Reporting test scores separately for student subgroups
Disaggregation required schools to report AYP data separately for racial, economic, and other subgroups to expose achievement gaps.
Question 2: Which subgroups were required to be reported separately under NCLB's disaggregation rules?
- Major racial/ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities (Correct answer)
- Only racial and ethnic minority groups
- Only low-income and special education students
- All students ranked by grade-level performance
Correct answer: Major racial/ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged, English language learners, and students with disabilities
NCLB required disaggregated reporting for racial/ethnic groups, economically disadvantaged students, ELL students, and students with disabilities.
Question 3: What is the 'safe harbor' provision under NCLB?
- An alternative AYP criterion allowing schools to meet targets if they reduce failing students by 10% (Correct answer)
- A waiver program for schools in natural disaster zones
- Protection for teachers who report school misconduct
- An exemption for rural schools with small student populations
Correct answer: An alternative AYP criterion allowing schools to meet targets if they reduce failing students by 10%
Safe harbor allowed schools that did not meet AYP to still be considered making progress if they reduced the percentage of non-proficient students by 10%.
Question 4: Under NCLB, a school must fail to meet AYP for how many consecutive years before it is identified for improvement?
- 2 years (Correct answer)
- 1 year
- 3 years
- 5 years
Correct answer: 2 years
A Title I school that fails to make AYP for two consecutive years is identified as a school in need of improvement.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes NCLB's stance on the achievement gap?
- It explicitly aimed to close gaps between disadvantaged and advantaged student groups (Correct answer)
- It acknowledged gaps exist but left closure to local discretion
- It focused solely on raising average scores regardless of equity
- It required only that all students show some improvement
Correct answer: It explicitly aimed to close gaps between disadvantaged and advantaged student groups
A central goal of NCLB was closing the achievement gap by requiring that all subgroups, not just overall averages, reach proficiency.
Question 6: NCLB required assessments in reading and math for all students in which grade bands?
- Grades 3–8 and once in grades 10–12 (Correct answer)
- Grades K–5 and once in high school
- Grades 4, 8, and 12 only
- Every grade from K through 12
Correct answer: Grades 3–8 and once in grades 10–12
NCLB mandated annual testing in reading and math for grades 3 through 8 and at least once in high school (grades 10–12).
Question 7: Under NCLB, what was the minimum 'n-size' concept used for in AYP calculations?
- A minimum number of students required for a subgroup to be counted in AYP (Correct answer)
- The number of years a school must miss AYP before sanctions apply
- The percentage of tests that must be valid for scores to count
- The minimum proficiency rate a subgroup must achieve
Correct answer: A minimum number of students required for a subgroup to be counted in AYP
States set minimum n-sizes to determine how many students a subgroup needed before its data was included in AYP calculations, protecting small group statistical reliability.
NCLB General Principles 3
What does the 'disaggregation' requirement under NCLB mandate?