Looks at four sources for measuring national student performance: (1) the National Assessment of Educational Progress study of basic skills; (2) competency testing in reading, writing, and arithmetic; (3) college entrance examination scores; and (4) rates of educational attainment by sex, race, ability level, and socioeconomic status. (SK)

Examines the negative outcomes of the mandatory external primary school-leaving certificate examination administered to Irish sixth-graders, 1943-67. Concludes that the Irish experience should warn American educators of the possible dangers of using minimum competency tests as the sole or primary determinant of decisions concerning grade-to-grade…

This booklet interprets and summarizes the results of the Connecticut Statewide Basic Skills Proficiency Test as administered to ninth graders in October, 1986. The test measures basic skills in reading and mathematics, and basic writing skills in the language arts. The test is used to identify students who require further remediation in order to…

This resource document represents the integration of both practice and theory related to minimum competency testing (MCT), and is largely based on information collected in a nationwide survey of MCT programs. Chapter 1, To Implement or Not to Implement MCT, by Marcy R. Perkins, presents a definition of MCT and a discussion of the perceived…

This manual specifies the skills and abilities possessed by the graduates of programs offered by the Terry Campus of Delaware Technical and Community College. First, introductory material discusses the college's competency-based philosophy and the efforts by faculty and administrators to criterion reference the competencies perceived by faculty to…

Because of their open-door policy, community colleges enroll a significant proportion of the poorly prepared students entering higher education. Many educators feel that colleges operating under open-door policies have a responsibility to identify underprepared students and provide them with the necessary developmental support. Colleges are…

Discusses how legal issues impinge upon teacher competency testing, describing key legal provisions (antitrust protection, due process, equal protection, substantial adverse impact, and business necessity), and examining each one's impact on testing and teacher certification. Recommendations to help teacher educators ensure legal, credible, and…

The Minnesota Department of Children, Families, and Learning plans to implement the "profile of learning" plan in 3 phases over 3 years beginning in the 1996-97 school year. This information brief contains a chart that depicts the profile of learning and highlights each of its elements. The profile of learning is composed of 10 broadly…

The Minnesota Legislature directed the Minnesota State Board of Education to set in rule the content and performance standards that public high school students must achieve in order to graduate. This information brief describes the history and current status of the High School Graduation Rule for public school students in Minnesota. The state's…

This guidebook identifies marketable skills employers look for in job candidates and lists 22 majors and specific vocations related to each major. There is also a section on jobs that require a general education, which applies to students in any major. Following each brief description of a major or educational program, there is a list of…

This collection includes several papers each on the legal aspects of bilingual education, the politics of implementing bilingual programs, the role of the community in establishing and maintaining bilingual programs, and bilingual program models. In addition, individual papers treat: (1) the impact of research on programs and policy, (2) the role…

Addresses problems with mathematics and science curricula at both elementary and secondary levels, and calls for helping more students succeed at the physics level of the science curriculum. (PVD)

Practical and technical advice is provided for staff responsible for planning evaluations of Educational Consolidation and Improvement Act (ECIA) Chapter 1 migrant programs at the state level. The report is limited to evaluating achievement gains in basic skills; this is, however, acknowledged as only one facet of a comprehensive migrant program…

This document describes and evaluates the San Diego Unified School District's basic education program. In each chapter, a background section is followed by an objectives/action plan chart. Charts show accomplishments of the past school year, 1982-83, and objectives for 1983-84. Basic education is defined in Chapter I as the core curriculum of a…

The conference reported in this document focused on the issues surrounding the progress of urban public schools in bringing about reforms aimed at providing the nation's future workforce with marketable skills, obtainable only through education. Section 1, "Perspectives on Educating Tomorrow's Workforce," contains the following articles:…