What is one potential consequence of high-stakes testing?

High-stakes testing can create significant pressure on students, teachers, and educational institutions to perform at certain levels. This pressure can lead to dishonest behaviors, including cheating by school officials. When the stakes are high—such as linking test scores to funding, evaluations, or job security—the temptation to manipulate results or engage in unethical practices can increase. This may manifest in various forms, including altering student answers, teaching to the test in a way that compromises educational integrity, or misrepresenting test outcomes to meet performance criteria.

The other options illustrate potential positive outcomes that are typically associated with various educational initiatives or reforms but are not inherent consequences of high-stakes testing. Increased student participation and higher engagement in learning would generally be viewed as beneficial, but they are not guaranteed results of high-stakes assessments. Likewise, while greater funding for education could occur through reform driven by results, it is not a direct consequence of high-stakes testing. Instead, the emphasis placed on test results and associated pressures can lead to unethical practices, making the focus on dishonesty and cheating a notable consequence.