SAC Project Planning & Execution 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: When conducting a needs assessment for a new student assistance program, which data source provides the most direct evidence of student need?
- Administrative discipline records only
- Student self-report surveys combined with academic and attendance data (Correct answer)
- Teacher referrals submitted during the previous school year
- State-mandated standardized test scores
Correct answer: Student self-report surveys combined with academic and attendance data
Triangulating student self-report with academic and attendance data captures both subjective experience and objective behavioral indicators of need.
Question 2: A SAC is designing a 12-week substance use prevention program. Which scheduling approach best ensures maximum student participation?
- Holding all sessions during lunch periods to avoid academic disruption
- Rotating session times across different class periods throughout the program (Correct answer)
- Scheduling every session on the same day and period for consistency
- Conducting sessions only after school when students are more relaxed
Correct answer: Rotating session times across different class periods throughout the program
Rotating session times minimizes repeated loss of the same academic content for individual students while maintaining attendance.
Question 3: Which element is MOST critical to include in a student assistance program logic model?
- A detailed budget projection for the next five years
- Clear links between program activities, outputs, and intended outcomes (Correct answer)
- A list of all community agencies available in the district
- The professional credentials of each staff member involved
Correct answer: Clear links between program activities, outputs, and intended outcomes
A logic model's core function is to show how specific activities produce measurable outputs that lead to intended outcomes.
Question 4: A SAC receives a grant requiring quarterly progress reports. Which action should be taken FIRST when a key program metric falls below the target threshold?
- Revise the grant targets downward to match current performance
- Notify the funder immediately and document a corrective action plan (Correct answer)
- Wait until the next quarterly report period to address the shortfall
- Discontinue the underperforming program component without documentation
Correct answer: Notify the funder immediately and document a corrective action plan
Proactive funder notification with a documented corrective action plan demonstrates accountability and protects the grant relationship.
Question 5: During program planning, a SAC identifies that school counselors and teachers hold conflicting views on student referral criteria. The BEST resolution strategy is to:
- Allow each staff group to use its own independent referral criteria
- Convene a joint stakeholder meeting to establish consensus-based referral guidelines (Correct answer)
- Defer entirely to administrative directive without additional stakeholder input
- Implement the SAC's preferred criteria and train staff afterward
Correct answer: Convene a joint stakeholder meeting to establish consensus-based referral guidelines
Consensus-based criteria developed collaboratively increase staff buy-in and create consistent, fair referral practices.
Question 6: Which SMART goal component is MISSING from this objective: 'The SAC will reduce student absenteeism by 15%'?
- Specific
- Measurable
- Time-bound (Correct answer)
- Relevant
Correct answer: Time-bound
Without a deadline, the goal lacks a time-bound parameter, making it impossible to evaluate whether progress is on track.
Question 7: A SAC is creating a Gantt chart for a semester-long peer mentoring initiative. What is the PRIMARY purpose of this tool?
- To calculate the total budget allocated per program week
- To visually map task sequences, durations, and dependencies across the timeline (Correct answer)
- To document student confidentiality agreements signed during intake
- To rank program components by their expected impact on student outcomes
Correct answer: To visually map task sequences, durations, and dependencies across the timeline
Gantt charts display task timelines and interdependencies, enabling project managers to track progress and identify scheduling conflicts.
SAC Project Planning & Execution 2
When conducting a needs assessment for a new student assistance program, which data source provides the most direct evidence of student need?