Teacher Centers began less than ten years ago in England. The English Teacher Centers are governed by the teachers themselves and are financially supported by the local educational authority. The various centers have two functions in common: (a) curriculum development; and (b) inservice education. In the United States, there are at least 4,500…

Between 1972 and 1974, Oregon adopted a series of comprehensive State Minimum Standards popularly titled "competency-based education." This paper addresses two types of research agendas that have emerged relative to these attempts to create a statewide reform. The first involves an ongoing research project whose purpose is to facilitate…

New Jersey's statewide testing program demonstrates that systematic data collection and reporting can have a major impact on both understanding the gap between college expectations and high school preparation and on the college and pre-college efforts to close that gap. (Author/MLW)

A curriculum development project was conducted to generate additional competency-based modules to be used within the articulation model for Pennsylvania dental assisting programs, established in 1988. Project activities included reviewing, modifying, and providing parallel competency-based structure for the courses at the A.W. Beattie Technical…

A project developed at Indiana University of Pennsylvania was designed to meet the needs of secondary school teachers of French and Spanish in two areas: proficiency maintenance and improvement, and proficiency testing. The program consisted of four phases, two during the funding period and two follow-up. The first, proficiency-building, involved…

The state of Georgia has been moving toward competency/performance-based education since the late 1960's. All of the groups concerned with education and the preparation of teachers (higher education institutions, the Georgia Teacher Education Council, professional organizations, and the Georgia Department of Education) have been involved. In…

This report presents findings of a nationwide study of student transitions from secondary to postsecondary education that is based on a survey of state higher education agencies and site visits to six states. The report finds a growing role for state higher education agencies in setting minimum college admissions requirements, coexistence of…

A Mississippi model for developing a professional teacher education core is reported as well as an accompanying automated student performance monitoring system. It is noted that state process and performance standards, observational performance assessments, and national test content were used to determine program content and outcomes. (CB)

A variety of viewpoints were represented in this symposium for chief state school officials and senior staff of state departments of education. Russell Vlaanderen, Education Commission of the States, opened with a national overview: "The Policy Implications of Minimum Competency Testing: The Case of the Standardized Student." Attorney…

During 1972-74, three separate but interrelated statewide policies were enacted providing the legal basis for moving Oregon public schools and the postsecondary institutions preparing educational personnel for these schools to a competency-based orientation. These three policy areas dealt with 1) changes in the minimum requirements for graduation…

This manual is designed as a training tool for individuals who are implementing tech prep in Indiana. It is divided into three major divisions. Division I contains general information about tech prep and issues related to its implementation. Its nine chapters summarize relevant legislation, address leadership concerns, explain curriculum…

Minimim standards and basic skills assessment activities at the federal, state, and local school district level, as of September 1977, are summarized, indicating the broad range and variety that exists nationwide. Minimal competency testing is mandated by law in eleven states: California, Colorado, Florida, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Nevada, New…

This publication contains abstracts of research projects in vocational education conducted in Pennsylvania. The directory also lists the research, exemplary, and curriculum activities which were conducted during the 1979-80 fiscal year. All projects listed were supported with federal vocational funds under Public Law 94-482. Information contained…

The 3-year Secondary Level Teacher Training Program is intended to train special education teachers for students with mild disabilities at the middle and high school levels. The program included both certification and masters degree components and was structured to encourage students to obtain both. Results of a survey of Oregon secondary special…

This paper examined some of the issues surrounding the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Examination (ATPE), including the rationale for teacher testing, the Arizona approach to testing, and selected student outcomes. Arizona moved from Legislative directive in April 1980, to the implementation of the Arizona Teacher Proficiency Examination in June…