The Aurora Institute's 2020 Federal Policy Priorities are an equity-driven and future-focused set of recommendations designed to ensure the nation's education system is fit for purpose. The priorities are intentionally constructed to support moving states and localities forward from their current state of education to future systems capable of…

This paper provides a vision and set of policy recommendations to help federal, state, and local leaders develop the workforce necessary to support teaching and learning in a competency-based K-12 education system. Part One, Pre-service and Credentialing for K-12 Competency-Based Learning Environments, provides policymakers with a framework and…

Teachers who have been trained to work with normal young children (early childhood certification) or with older disabled children (special education certification) are unprepared to assume the multiple responsibilities of the teacher of preschool disabled children. Prior to the 1979-1980 academic year, few (if any) formal on-going inservice (or…

This article presents proposed guidelines for training of teachers of the gifted developed by the Association for the Gifted of the Council for Exceptional Children and the National Council for Accreditation of Teacher Education. The 12 guidelines cover knowledge of educational principles, ability to plan appropriate programs, and mastery of…

This paper addresses the implications of Public Law 99-457, (the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments of 1986, which mandates that by 1990-91 all children that qualify for special education should have access to services from birth onward), with particular attention to the training needs of personnel serving handicapped children ages 0-5.…

This report provides the second year update to the Alberta (Canada) government's 3-year plan to restructure the province's education system. Key strategies for improving teaching are put forth, including: updating teacher preparation and certification requirements to reflect the most current understanding of effective teaching; establishing…

The history of the gradual redesigning of teacher education in Ohio from the first certification law for teachers in 1825 to the present is outlined. Descriptions of the rationale and processes of changes are presented in the following sequence: (1) reforms of the past; (2) two critical decades in redesigning teacher education; (3) funding for…

The Georgia Teacher Certification Tests were developed and validated to be job-related and to reflect the minimum content knowledge that is necessary to teach in each certification area in Georgia classrooms. Three assessment instruments are used in evaluating the performance of preservice students and beginning teachers. The Teacher Performance…

A list of microcomputing competencies associated with functions that special education professors typically perform was assessed by 148 special education faculty who use microcomputers. Word processing was rated as the single most useful competency, along with the category of providing instruction about microcomputer applications in special…

This document presents a draft of model standards for licensing teachers, both general and special education, of students with disabilities and is intended to elicit discussion and feedback from states, professional organizations, and teacher education programs. The standards are based on 10 core principles for beginning teacher licensing and…

This paper: (1) describes the recently implemented Texas plan for school reform; (2) delineates a major component of Texas reform, the career ladder. In response to a nationwide call for raised educational standards, Texas passed HB 72, a comprehensive education bill implementing a comprehensive "career ladder" model for the testing,…

The University Affiliated Program at the University of Southern Mississippi developed and implemented a model preservice transdisciplinary training program to prepare graduate leadership personnel in early intervention. The program components include a competency-based curriculum; options for field experiences; diverse training options; and links…

This study identified specific assessment and diagnostic competencies seen as important for masters level special educators. In Phase 1, objectives were gathered from the assessment courses of 61 universities preparing special education teachers. In Phase 2, an initial list of 128 competency statements (71 knowledge statements and 57 skill…

A needs assessment instrument was developed to identify training competencies for rural special education teachers in Louisiana. The 49-item questionnaire addressed such issues as the curriculum offered by the teacher education program as well as the personal and professional characteristics necessary for success in the rural classroom. The…

This publication is a guide to assessing the subject-matter competence of prospective physical education teachers in California. The guide was developed as part of a statewide response to legislated entry and exit standards for teachers in elementary and secondary schools. An introduction describes the regulations and executive order, which are…