Professional Development: New Directions for Texas

Answers to "A True/False Test of Logic"

1. TRUE . . . don't you think? It is true that program evaluation may be a response to various "political" demands.
   And there may be important subgoals (i.e. weeding out inefficient programs, reallocating funds to programs deemed most "successful"). But, if one assumes the higher moral ground, the ultimate goal - and the ultimate effect - (even of these subgoals) should be to foster student learning.

2. TRUE, again, yes?

3. TRUE. But how could this be so? By encouraging teachers to "teach to the test" - when the test only measures trivial sub-skills, not the breadth of what you want students to learn. Can you think of other ways tests might impede student leaning?

4. Could this be TRUE?

5. TRUE or FALSE

   If this is FALSE, what argument do we use to justify "impeding student learning" in the name of program evaluation and accountability?

   If this is TRUE, then how should we address the issue of program evaluation and program accountability?