SAC Quality Assurance & Improvement 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which evaluation model is most commonly used to assess the effectiveness of SAC program outcomes by measuring changes in student behavior over time?
- Formative evaluation
- Summative evaluation (Correct answer)
- Needs assessment
- Process evaluation
Correct answer: Summative evaluation
Summative evaluation measures end-of-program outcomes and behavioral changes, making it ideal for assessing overall SAC program effectiveness.
Question 2: A SAC counselor wants to determine if a new early intervention strategy is being implemented as intended. Which quality assurance approach should they use?
- Outcome monitoring
- Fidelity assessment (Correct answer)
- Cost-benefit analysis
- Comparative benchmarking
Correct answer: Fidelity assessment
Fidelity assessment determines whether an intervention is being delivered as designed, ensuring implementation quality.
Question 3: When reviewing program data, a SAC counselor notices that referral rates to outside agencies increased by 40% but student follow-through dropped. What is the BEST next step?
- Eliminate external referrals from the program
- Conduct a process evaluation to identify barriers (Correct answer)
- Increase the number of available referral agencies
- Document the discrepancy and take no further action
Correct answer: Conduct a process evaluation to identify barriers
A process evaluation identifies barriers and gaps in service delivery that explain why follow-through is not occurring.
Question 4: Which data source provides the MOST direct evidence that a SAC program is reducing substance use among students?
- Student satisfaction surveys
- Pre/post self-report surveys on substance use frequency (Correct answer)
- Attendance records
- Number of students enrolled in the program
Correct answer: Pre/post self-report surveys on substance use frequency
Pre/post self-report surveys measuring substance use frequency directly capture changes in the target behavior the program aims to reduce.
Question 5: A school district requires SAC programs to demonstrate alignment with ASCA National Model standards. This requirement reflects which quality assurance principle?
- Peer benchmarking
- Accountability to professional standards (Correct answer)
- Resource allocation equity
- Stakeholder satisfaction
Correct answer: Accountability to professional standards
Aligning with ASCA National Model standards reflects accountability to established professional standards that guide school counseling practice.
Question 6: A SAC counselor uses control groups to compare outcomes between students who received services and those who did not. This methodology is BEST described as:
- Quasi-experimental evaluation design (Correct answer)
- Case study analysis
- Ethnographic research
- Anecdotal outcome reporting
Correct answer: Quasi-experimental evaluation design
Comparing a treatment group to a non-treatment group without random assignment is a hallmark of quasi-experimental design.
Question 7: Which indicator is considered a LEADING indicator of program quality rather than a lagging indicator?
- Graduation rate improvement
- Reduction in disciplinary incidents
- Percentage of high-risk students screened within 30 days of referral (Correct answer)
- Number of students achieving sobriety milestones
Correct answer: Percentage of high-risk students screened within 30 days of referral
Screening timeliness is a process metric that predicts future outcomes, making it a leading indicator of program quality.
SAC Quality Assurance & Improvement 2
Which evaluation model is most commonly used to assess the effectiveness of SAC program outcomes by measuring changes in student behavior over time?