The Department of Education has been under attack by people motivated by the perceived failure of the system to improve educational achievement on the elementary and high school levels or the desire to dramatically reduce spending and waste during troubled economic times. A new program introduced in four states seems to address competency and…

The scheduled raising of the passing grade on Florida's College Level Academic Skills Test is discussed. The critics say the higher passing standard would have a severe impact on otherwise-qualified minority students and on those for whom English is not the native tongue. (MLW)

Discusses the use of computerized placement testing at Santa Fe Community College to enable students needing only a short review of reading skills to exit early from a College Preparatory Reading Class (CPRC). Describes CPRC placement, structure, curriculum, and exit criteria; the Early Exit Reading Project; and project results. (DMM)

Educational accountability is central to the reputation of the nation's community colleges. Some community colleges are adopting mastery learning, competency-based education, curriculum tracking, and/or minimum competency-testing as a means of remaining educationally accountable. Mastery learning programs, under which students are required to…

Suggests that mandatory placement of underprepared students in developmental courses may actually provide the key to opening the door to true academic, vocational, or community success, despite criticism by some that it excludes students and restricts their freedoms. Discusses ethical balances between access, student success and academic…

An overview is provided of the activities of the President's Study Group on Student Learning Outcomes, established in 1990 at Lehigh County Community College to identify associate degree and certificate competencies and to develop strategies for their implementation and assessment. Introductory materials list the Study Group's members and review…

Described in this paper is a proposal concerning the responsibility of the California community colleges in providing remediation services and programs. The first part of the paper concerns the proposal itself. After a brief statement of the major issues under consideration, the conditions under which student success can be ensured in open access…

During the 1980s Florida has mandated several testing programs to improve the quality of the community college, state university, and teacher education entrants and graduates. Three measures were intended to improve the quality of community college/state university/teacher education students. The College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) program…

The current accountability process at Red Rocks Community College (RRCC) is based on a computer-managed instruction (CMI) system, containing student outcomes components, test items, student testing and evaluation information, student information, and reports for students, faculty, and administrators. The system was developed following extensive…

At Amarillo College (AC) in Texas, academic advising is provided by certified counselors at the Advising and Counseling Center in conjunction with faculty and staff of the developmental studies department. In addition, all teaching faculty serve as student advisors. During the past 5 years, a number of factors have placed increased demands on the…

In response to a legislative mandate, this report assesses the validity of the College Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST) and offers recommendations for increasing the passing rate of students. Section I summarizes the Florida State Legislature's interest and intent in establishing CLAST an achievement test--measuring skills in computation,…

Describes two state-mandated programs for institutional accountability in New Jersey (i.e., Basic Skills Assessment Program and College Outcomes Evaluation Program), which function through cooperation between the state's higher education agency and its colleges and universities. Highlights research objectives, procedures, responsibilities,…

A review of objectives for the current five-year plan (1977-1982) and an annual report outlining progress made during 1979 are presented for each sub-committee of the Developmental Mathematics Curriculum Committee (DMCC) of the American Mathematical Association of Two-Year Colleges (AMATYC). The sub-committee for hand-held calculators outlines a…

Reviews assessment efforts in Florida's postsecondary institutions, which emphasize assessing achievement periodically, improving guidance and placement, increasing college readiness among secondary students, and measuring college-level skills after the second college year. Looks at the positive contributions of these changes and the potential for…

This project report outlines the entry-level competencies required for student success in 13 vocational programs at Pensacola Junior College: Accounting Technician; Computer Programming/Operations; Core Program--Major Appliances, Air Conditioning and Heating, Maintenance Technology, and Industrial Electricity; Cosmetology; Dental Hygiene;…