PEL 238 (SCHOOL SW) CONTENT AREA EXAM
STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. A school’s IEP team is facing challenges with parents who disagree with the
decisions being made. The SSW is asked to address the parents' concerns. What
approach should the school social worker take?
a. Act as a mediator/advocate and suggest filing a due process hearing, offering
support throughout the process.
b. Meet privately with the parents, actively listening to their concerns with care and
empathy.
c. Recommend obtaining a re-evaluation from an alternate agency.
Correct Answer: b. Meet privately with the parents, actively listening to their
concerns with care and empathy.
2. A rural school invites Alateen to provide information. How does this benefit the
school community most effectively?
A) Helps the school understand the impact of alcoholism on students.
B) Provides students with education on substance abuse.
C) Establishes a community referral resource for students.
D) Teaches students how to address their parents’ drinking behaviors.
Correct Answer: C) Establishes a community referral resource for students.
3. Under IDEA, what is the primary responsibility of a school social worker?
A) Prepare SDS reports and conduct behavioral assessments.
,B) Serve as an advocate for students and families.
C) Explain parents’ rights regarding students with disabilities.
D) Facilitate communication between the school and families.
Correct Answer: A) Prepare SDS reports and conduct behavioral assessments.
4. Which characteristic aligns most closely with identifying a turbulent student?
A) Deeply concerned about others’ opinions.
B) Frequently changes hair color.
C) Joins a new or different religious group.
D) Experiences lack of appetite and sleep disturbances.
Correct Answer: D) Experiences lack of appetite and sleep disturbances.
5. Two teachers seek the school social worker’s advice about a refugee student.
What recommendation would be most effective?
A) Encourage practicing English through flashcards.
B) Revamp the entire curriculum to better suit the student.
C) Provide more opportunities for cooperative learning experiences.
D) Group students with similar backgrounds into a single class.
Correct Answer: C) Provide more opportunities for cooperative learning
experiences.
,6. A student with an SLD has been involved in fights during recess and in other
classrooms. What should the IEP team prioritize?
A) Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
B) Developing a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).
C) Performing an Adaptive Behavior Assessment.
D) Using a Behavior Rating Scale.
Correct Answer: A) Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
7. A foster parent reports to the school social worker that unscheduled visits by the
biological mother are affecting the student’s ability to complete homework. How
can the social worker assist?
A) Encourage the foster parent to assist the student with assignments.
B) Speak with the biological mother about adhering to scheduled visits.
C) Provide positive reinforcement when the student completes homework.
D) Inform teachers about the situation to consider during grading.
Correct Answer: C) Provide positive reinforcement when the student completes
homework.
8. What is a key challenge for an auditory learner in an academic setting?
A) Adjusting to transitions prompted by bells or similar auditory cues.
B) Speaking or reading aloud in front of others.
, C) Independently reading and processing written material.
D) Understanding verbal instructions without visual support.
Correct Answer: C) Independently reading and processing written material.
9. A student transfers from a homogeneous cultural environment to a diverse
school. What should the school social worker prioritize in their work with the
student?
A) Identifying and appreciating cultural differences.
B) Navigating interactions with staff from various cultural backgrounds.
C) Addressing language barriers within the diverse school environment.
D) Fostering acceptance of cultural diversity.
Correct Answer: A) Identifying and appreciating cultural differences.
10. A 10th-grade student who has been sexually assaulted reports ongoing feelings
of hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness to the school social worker despite
attending social/emotional support groups. What intervention would best address
these issues?
A) Encouraging the student to journal and reflect at home.
B) Focusing on building strengths through goal setting, activities, and other
strategies.
C) Creating a collage to encourage self-reflection.
STUDY GUIDE WITH COMPLETE SOLUTION!!
1. A school’s IEP team is facing challenges with parents who disagree with the
decisions being made. The SSW is asked to address the parents' concerns. What
approach should the school social worker take?
a. Act as a mediator/advocate and suggest filing a due process hearing, offering
support throughout the process.
b. Meet privately with the parents, actively listening to their concerns with care and
empathy.
c. Recommend obtaining a re-evaluation from an alternate agency.
Correct Answer: b. Meet privately with the parents, actively listening to their
concerns with care and empathy.
2. A rural school invites Alateen to provide information. How does this benefit the
school community most effectively?
A) Helps the school understand the impact of alcoholism on students.
B) Provides students with education on substance abuse.
C) Establishes a community referral resource for students.
D) Teaches students how to address their parents’ drinking behaviors.
Correct Answer: C) Establishes a community referral resource for students.
3. Under IDEA, what is the primary responsibility of a school social worker?
A) Prepare SDS reports and conduct behavioral assessments.
,B) Serve as an advocate for students and families.
C) Explain parents’ rights regarding students with disabilities.
D) Facilitate communication between the school and families.
Correct Answer: A) Prepare SDS reports and conduct behavioral assessments.
4. Which characteristic aligns most closely with identifying a turbulent student?
A) Deeply concerned about others’ opinions.
B) Frequently changes hair color.
C) Joins a new or different religious group.
D) Experiences lack of appetite and sleep disturbances.
Correct Answer: D) Experiences lack of appetite and sleep disturbances.
5. Two teachers seek the school social worker’s advice about a refugee student.
What recommendation would be most effective?
A) Encourage practicing English through flashcards.
B) Revamp the entire curriculum to better suit the student.
C) Provide more opportunities for cooperative learning experiences.
D) Group students with similar backgrounds into a single class.
Correct Answer: C) Provide more opportunities for cooperative learning
experiences.
,6. A student with an SLD has been involved in fights during recess and in other
classrooms. What should the IEP team prioritize?
A) Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
B) Developing a Behavioral Intervention Plan (BIP).
C) Performing an Adaptive Behavior Assessment.
D) Using a Behavior Rating Scale.
Correct Answer: A) Conducting a Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA).
7. A foster parent reports to the school social worker that unscheduled visits by the
biological mother are affecting the student’s ability to complete homework. How
can the social worker assist?
A) Encourage the foster parent to assist the student with assignments.
B) Speak with the biological mother about adhering to scheduled visits.
C) Provide positive reinforcement when the student completes homework.
D) Inform teachers about the situation to consider during grading.
Correct Answer: C) Provide positive reinforcement when the student completes
homework.
8. What is a key challenge for an auditory learner in an academic setting?
A) Adjusting to transitions prompted by bells or similar auditory cues.
B) Speaking or reading aloud in front of others.
, C) Independently reading and processing written material.
D) Understanding verbal instructions without visual support.
Correct Answer: C) Independently reading and processing written material.
9. A student transfers from a homogeneous cultural environment to a diverse
school. What should the school social worker prioritize in their work with the
student?
A) Identifying and appreciating cultural differences.
B) Navigating interactions with staff from various cultural backgrounds.
C) Addressing language barriers within the diverse school environment.
D) Fostering acceptance of cultural diversity.
Correct Answer: A) Identifying and appreciating cultural differences.
10. A 10th-grade student who has been sexually assaulted reports ongoing feelings
of hopelessness, guilt, and worthlessness to the school social worker despite
attending social/emotional support groups. What intervention would best address
these issues?
A) Encouraging the student to journal and reflect at home.
B) Focusing on building strengths through goal setting, activities, and other
strategies.
C) Creating a collage to encourage self-reflection.
