The purpose of this paper is to begin the process of bringing conceptual clarity and order to the discussion of competency based education. Toward this end, a number of steps have been taken: (1) the wide variety of educational practices that relate to the concept of competency based education, and the variety of programs that carry the label,…

The Board of Education of the School District of the City of Saginaw requested the Department of Evaluation Services to review the literature relative to competency testing, especially for the elementary grades. This review on competency testing programs and competency based education (CBE) covers several areas. The emphasis on educational…

One of the developers of Cabrillo Unified School District's Basic Proficiency Monitoring System outlines basic principles for designing and implementing such a system: believe in the process, concentrate on the fundamentals, keep it simple and inexpensive, and always follow up. (SJL)

Citing William Spady's distinction between capacity and competence, the author asserts that current competency tests mainly measure academic (capacity) not life (competency) skills. He then considers problems inherent in delineating, teaching, and testing essential practical living competencies and presents some alternatives. Part of a theme issue…

Outcomes of the Performance-Based Diploma (BPD) Program, a program implemented at a high school in the southeast United States, are described in this paper. The basic elements for success are people, program design, and product. Staff function on the belief that teachers exist to meet students' needs. The program includes the following components:…

This guide outlines a model for competency-based education (CBE) as well as procedures for administration of CBE programs. The model includes the following elements--publicly determined and displayed student learning outcomes, curricular changes, life role related outcomes, integrated learning experiences, and individualized instruction.…

This issue collects articles concerning the education of reading teachers. Deborah Osen Hancock and Jack Jones provide "California Professors of Reading: An Organization in the Process of Becoming," an article describing the role of the California Association of College Professors of Reading in teacher certification and program design. In…

This program development handbook is part of a statewide effort to develop and implement an Arizona Competency Based Guidance Program model for Arizona school districts. Part 1, the Overview, includes an introduction to competency-based guidance, followed by the mission statement of the Arizona Department of Education regarding guidance and the…

This manual is the curriculum component of a series designed to provide school planners and guidance personnel with a comprehensive developmental guidance program model which can be adapted, adopted or used to create new programs. The materials focus on program planning, staff development, guidance curriculum, and activity guides for grades K-12.…

This teaching guide for second language instruction in North Carolina public schools outlines a competency-based program and provides specific guidelines for both modern languages and Latin. The introductory section provides an overview of the competency-based educational program, which includes information on philosophy and rationale, thinking…

This report presents a review conducted by a multinational panel on educational policy in the United States. The report concentrates on compensatory programs in elementary and secondary education, with an emphasis on Title I programs. Topics covered include: (1) recent trends in American education; (2) the philosophy, operational design, and…

This handbook is intended to help Missouri school districts develop and implement quality family and consumer sciences programs that will prepare students of all ages to be critical, ethical thinkers and successful family, career, and community leaders. The handbook begins with a bibliography listing 27 resources. The following are among the…