Public Policy Questions

Which of the following educational reforms was passed during the 1995 legislative session?a. In certain circumstances, students in low-performing schools could transfer to high-performing schools in the same district.b. The TEAMS test replaced the TAAS test.c. Teachers were required to demonstrate proficiency in their field every 10 years.d. Students were required to complete end-of-course exams in 15 courses to graduate.

The origins of modern welfare policy lie ina. the post-Civil War Reconstruction era.b. President Franklin Roosevelt's New Deal.c. President Truman's post-World War II reforms.d. President Lyndon Johnson's Great Society programs.

Among the most important findings of the 1983 report A Nation at Risk were thata. graduation rates were improving and dropout rates were increasing.b. dropout rates were increasing and test scores were improving.c. test scores were declining and functional illiteracy was increasing.d. functional illiteracy was decreasing and test scores were improving.

Dropout rates in Texas area. about the same for all demographic groups.b. highest among Latinos and African Americans.c. highest among the Asian student population.d. lowest among minorities.

In the 1973 San Antonio v. Rodriguez case, the Supreme Court ruled 5-4 that states such as Texasa. are required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause.b. are not required to subsidize poorer school districts under the equal protection clause.c. are required to equalize funding to public and private schools.d. are not required to subsidize wealthy school districts under the equal protection clause.

Plessy v. Ferguson (1896)a. invalidated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas.b. validated the election of State Board of Education members.c. overturned the Brown v. Board of Education U.S. Supreme Court case of 1954.d. validated state-imposed racial segregation in Texas public schools.

In Edgewood ISD v. Kirby, the key constitutional issue wasa. whether the Brown v. Board of Education decision applied to Texas students.b. whether the phrase "an efficient system of free public schools" included school financing.c. de facto segregation.d. the continuing effects of Roe v. Wade on public education.

Under the separate but equal doctrine in the 1920s and 1930s, the amount of money Texas spent on black students was ________ the amount spent on white students in public schools.a. the same as b. much higher than c. lower thand. rapidly catching up to

Texas determines which children are eligible for reduced-price or free lunch at school based ona. the tax rates assessed by each county designated for non-instructional educational funding.b. guidelines presented by the LBB before the biennial budget is passed by the legislature.c. the proportion of students living in poverty in the school district.d. federal poverty guidelines.

One effective way to improve public education in Texas that a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and Tea Party supporters would accept isa. literacy tests for teachers.b. issuing vouchers.c. reducing the number of required end-of-course tests from 15 to 5.d. increasing pay for teachers.

Supporters of vouchers argue that ____________________________; while opponents argue that ___________________________.a. if parents do not think a public school is working for their child, they should be able to send their child to a private school and take their funding with them; vouchers will drain money from public schools and leave only poorer children in these schools.b. they will encourage highly qualified teachers to come to Texas because they offer better pay; the vouchers will create an unsustainable situation because they require a very low student-to-teacher ratio.c. they are the most cost-efficient way for the state to be in compliance with the regulations imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act; they are an expensive unfunded mandate forced upon the state by the federal government.d. they are essential to ensure that all Texans can attend the college or university of their choice; they end up driving up the cost of attendance for all students.

In Brown v. Board of Education, segregated school districts were ordered toa. double the funding for African American integrated schools.b. desegregate their schools within the next 10 years.c. desegregate their schools "with all deliberate speed."d. appoint a commission to study the Texas school system and make recommendations to the governor.

The three main issues that have shaped education policy in Texas over the last 50 years have beena. income taxes, federal regulation, and teachers' salaries.b. labor unions, civil rights, and school district lines.c. funding, desegregation, and educational excellence.d. desegregation, access to the Internet, and urbanization.

Which of the following helps explain why the push to use testing and accountability as tools to reform the educational system in Texas was successful?a. the influence of teachers in the political culture of Texasb. the influence of business groups in the political culture of Texasc. the influence of parents in the political culture of Texasd. the influence of dual federalism—these steps were required by the federal government

________ calls for wealthy districts to transfer funds to poorer districts in order to equalize funds available to all public schools across the state.a. The equalization plan b. The Edgewood IV plan c. The Robin Hood pland. Senate Bill 7

Which U.S. Supreme Court case overturned Plessy v. Ferguson, ruling that state-imposed segregation in schools isolated the equal protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment?a. San Antonio v. Rodriguez b. Edge ISD v. Kirby c. Brown v. Board of Educationd. Mendez v. Westminster

Since the late 1960s, de facto segregationa. has been completely eliminated.b. continues to be a problem, particularly in urban public schools with large minority populations.c. has been ruled illegal and, therefore, is no longer an issue in public education.d. has resulted in all federal funds being withheld from the public schools in Texas.

In 2016, the Texas Supreme Court held that the existing system for funding public schools met the minimum constitutional provisions fora. fairness. b. efficiency. c. general diffusion of knowledged. acceptability.

Which of the following occurred during the 2017 legislative session?a. The legislature passed a law requiring that the state boost per capita spending on education to remain ahead of inflation.b. The legislature introduced new requirements mandating additional training post-bachelor's degree to receive a permanent teaching certificate. c. The legislature shifted more of the responsibility for education funding onto local governments.d. The legislature proposed the creation of a new dedicated budget fund for capital improvements for school districts.

In 1949, which law increased state funding and established the Texas Education Agency (TEA), which carries out the state's educational program?a. No Child Left Behind b. Gilmer-Aikin Laws c. Top 10 Percent Pland. Texas Educational Framework