The purpose of this booklet is to provide a brief overview of the 1981-82 high school debate resolutions, which focus on minimum competencies, uniform financing, and standardized teacher certification as methods of improving the United States elementary and secondary education systems. The five chapters of the booklet are intended to prepare…

The present study examines the influence of judges' item-related knowledge on setting standards for competency tests. Seventeen judges from different professions took a 122-item teacher-certification test in economics while setting competency standards for the test using the Angoff procedure. Judges tended to set higher standards for items they…

Representatives from Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and Texas discuss the issues surrounding teacher and student competency and accountability. For each state, they review legislative policies and actions and the programs of the state education department regarding the use of competency and accountability standards. The…

Examines the nature of competency testing reforms through a multisite investigation of local school districts and states. Argues that competency tests and standards function more as symbolic and political gestures than as instrumental reforms. (FMW)

Black educators and black teacher education are directly affected by the "back to basics" movement, the minimum competency testing program, and the use of standardized test scores as a criterion for teacher certification. Black educators have a high stake in the back to basics movement, and it is important for them to be involved in the…