Case Study Answers
- Who are the central characters in the case? Describe them. (4 points)
(i). Ms. Garrison is the acting principal of Tri-County Middle School; she is a hardworking teacher given that she has been a teacher for 12 years. She is very determined to ensure that tests are standardly given without any form of cheating.
(ii). Ms. Haney is a teacher in Tri-County Middle School; she does not understand the concept of standardized tests. She is one of the teachers that are cheating for her students by filling out the answer sheets for them with the assumption that it helps keep correct records.
- In your opinion, was Ms. Haney cheating when she completed the answer sheets for her students last year? Explain your reasoning. (2 points)
Yes she was, the standard procedures clearly state that the students should fill in their own sheets. When filling out the tests sheets the teacher may make a mistake and fill out something that the student has not written and this would be automatic cheating.
- Is it fair or unfair to give students with disabilities extra time and assistance on standardized tests? Explain your thinking. (2 points)
It is very fair to give such students extra time. These students may have some difficulty reading and even writing which means that they may be a bit slow as compared to the other students. Giving them some extra time will help them be at the same time range with the rest of the students.
- Do you think it was a good idea for Mr. Womack to announce who received the highest grad in the AP physics class? Why or why not? (2 points)
Yes, this will help motivate the rest of the students to work hard so that they also be recognized.
- The improvement of test scores over last year may be a result of “test pollution”. What specific issues raised about how test score pollution may have occurred in this school? Provide 2 other examples of test score pollution that occur within a school. (4 points)
Issues that were raised
- Teachers filling out answer sheets for the students
- Teachers giving the students extra time to complete the tests
Two other examples
- Students discussing the answers during the test
- Teachers showing leniency during the marking of the tests
- Ms. Garrison has instruction sheets with students’ accommodations to provide teachers. She mentions that staff members involved with each of these children have confirmed the types of accommodations they should be given during testing. Who are these staff members likely to be? Explain your answer. (2 points)
(i) The guidance counselor because he or she gets the time to talk to search students out of the class and understands their capacity
(ii) Psychology teachers because these are professionals in matters of psychology and would then understand the ways to deal with such students.
- Based on the discussion of at-risk students in the module, what types of students would expect to be given accommodations? What types of accommodations might be included? (4 points)
At-risk students
- The students that have emotional and behavioral issues
- The students that have low academic performance
Accommodations
- Extra time to complete the tests
- Personal monitoring by the teacher during the tests
