NCLB State Assessment Systems 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Under NCLB, how frequently were states required to assess students in reading and mathematics in grades 3–8?
- Once every three years
- Once every two years
- Annually (Correct answer)
- Twice per year
Correct answer: Annually
NCLB required annual assessments in reading and math for all students in grades 3 through 8.
Question 2: Which term describes the NCLB requirement that all student subgroups must meet the same proficiency targets?
- Universal design
- Adequate Yearly Progress (Correct answer)
- Highly qualified standard
- Safe harbor provision
Correct answer: Adequate Yearly Progress
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) required each identified subgroup to meet state-set proficiency benchmarks.
Question 3: What minimum number of students in a subgroup was typically required before a school was held accountable for that subgroup's AYP?
- 5 students
- 15 students
- A state-set minimum, often around 30–40 students (Correct answer)
- 100 students
Correct answer: A state-set minimum, often around 30–40 students
States set their own 'n-size' minimums for statistical reliability, commonly in the 30–40 student range.
Question 4: Under NCLB's science assessment requirement, how often did students need to be tested in science?
- Annually in grades 3–8 and once in grades 10–12
- At least once in each of three grade spans: 3–5, 6–9, and 10–12 (Correct answer)
- Only in grade 8 and grade 11
- Every other year starting in grade 4
Correct answer: At least once in each of three grade spans: 3–5, 6–9, and 10–12
NCLB required science assessments at least once in grades 3–5, 6–9, and 10–12, but science did not count toward AYP.
Question 5: A school fails to meet AYP for two consecutive years in the same subject. What is the first required intervention under NCLB?
- Restructuring
- Corrective action
- Public school choice (Correct answer)
- Improvement planning only
Correct answer: Public school choice
After two consecutive years of missing AYP, a Title I school must offer public school choice to affected students.
Question 6: Which population's scores could states include using an 'alternate achievement standards' assessment under NCLB?
- English language learners in their first year
- Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (Correct answer)
- Migrant students
- Gifted and talented students
Correct answer: Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities
NCLB allowed states to use alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, capped at 1% of all tested students for AYP.
Question 7: What did NCLB require states to do with assessment results to ensure transparency?
- Share results only with parents upon request
- Report results publicly by school, district, and disaggregated by subgroup (Correct answer)
- Submit all raw data only to the U.S. Department of Education
- Report only statewide averages annually
Correct answer: Report results publicly by school, district, and disaggregated by subgroup
NCLB mandated public reporting of assessment results disaggregated by subgroup so communities could track equity gaps.
