Minimum competency testing in American schools was examined for its effects on low-achieving high school students. Interviews with educators and results of a survey of more than 700 high school students were used. In the view of many educators, minimum competency tests were so rudimentary as to not be much of a barrier to completing school. Most…

Standard setting practices in states using the NTE (formerly the National Teacher Examinations) were examined for 1987. The NTE is composed of two segments: (1) a Core Battery covering the communication skills and general knowledge skills; and (2) a test of professional knowledge about teaching. The processes used to establish passing scores for…

A prototype low inference observation instrument to measure minimal teaching competencies of teaching candidates was deductively developed. Focus is on determining if observers could be trained to use the observation instrument with a high degree of reliability and validity. The instrument, entitled Classroom Observation and Assessment Scale for…

The study surveyed the 50 states and the District of Columbia to identify current state policies that regulate graduation requirements and to determine how these policies have been applied to programs for high school special education students. Survey results produced four major findings: (1) all but three states have legislation or state board of…

This report from the State Superintendent of Public Instruction responds to a directive from the Washington State Legislature to provide information on the progress of the development and field testing of minimum procedural standards and model evaluation programs for teachers. It contains a draft of the proposed minimum procedural standards for…

The Maryland State Department of Education issued a request for proposals to develop a score reporting system for the Maryland Functional Testing Program. RMC Research Corporation conducted a literature review of extant literature and developed a national survey of non-norm-referenced test score reporting practices. This comprehensive analysis of…

The sources of variability in the Angoff standard-setting procedure, when applied to the Alabama High School Graduation Examination (AHSGE), were examined. The sources of variability examined are judges, rounds (replications), competencies (items), and interactions among these three sources. After training, the judges were given a statement of a…

One of a series of implementation documents prepared in conjunction with the revised minimum standards adopted in 1983 by the Ohio State Board of Education, this publication is designed to help teachers and administrators organize secondary reading instruction that will meet the requirements of the revised standards. The document is organized into…

One of a series of implementation documents prepared in conjunction with the revised minimum standards adopted in 1983 by the Ohio State Board of Education, this publication is designed to assist those charged with program development and review in reviewing their high school programs to determine whether their mathematics curricula meet the…

Aware of the societal problems stemming from a lack of communication skills, the American public is pressing for instruction in speaking and listening in the schools. This response is reflected in the speaking and listening competency recommendations in many national reform reports. Such reports include "A Nation at Risk" by the National…

Project Basic is a program developed by the Maryland State Department of Education to assure that students attain basic skills in a variety of areas. Two levels of tests are given in grade 7 to monitor progress, and in grades 9 to 12 to determine whether each student has met the state minimum competency level. Students must pass the higher level…

Proposed 1989 standards will raise the passing score on the College Level Academic Skills Test from 275 to 295 in computation, from 270 to 295 in reading and writing, and from 4 to 5 on the essay test. A study was conducted at Miami-Dade Community College (MDCC) to examine the impact of these proposed standards on the passing rates of students…

This program was designed to examine ways to assess competencies in basic skills, as well as ways to remediate those secondary students found lacking in these skills. Students were identified through the use of their Basic Skills Assessment Program (BSAP) scores. Teachers reassigned to remedial classes revealed a need for teaching teachers to work…

This brief overview of minimum competency testing and disabled high school students discusses: the inclusion or exclusion of handicapped students in minimum competency testing programs; approaches to accommodating the individual needs of handicapped students; and legal issues. Surveys of states that have mandated minimum competency tests indicate…

A project was undertaken at Milwaukee Area Technical College (MATC) to involve business and industry representatives in defining minimal reading competencies for job entrance, retention and promotion. Project activities included the following: (1) a workshop entitled, "Business Speaks to Education," during which business education and reading…