Two issues, one familiar and the other less so, emerge from the controversy over declining scores on standardized tests in the United States and the growing movement toward minimal competency testing mandated by government. The familiar issue involves the balance between egalitarianism and elitism in American education. The second, a reemerging…

This report represents the first attempt by the Council of the Great City Schools to assess the states of minimal competency testing in its twenty-eight member cities. This report does not focus on the results of the tests, but on the general characteristics of each competency testing program. Few cities use the same tests or collaborate in…

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…

The rapid growth of minimum competency testing (by 1981, 36 states in the United States had mandated some form of minimum competency testing) has led to increased legal challenges of the existing testing programs. Three issues have been raised and are summarized in this brief overview: (1) constitutional claims under the due process clause; (2)…

Intended to help the laity find their way through the confusion and controversy surrounding minimum competency testing (MCT), this paper explains what MCT is, acknowledges its limitations, weighs the criticisms, and shows how MCT may be used constructively for the benefit of students and for the improvement of schools. Highlights from the paper…

This paper contains descriptions of mandated minimum competency programs in 13 states: Connecticut, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Missouri, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, South Carolina, Texas, and Vermont. Each description provides the skills assessed in the state, the assessment instruments used, and the overall purposes of…

This paper contains descriptions of mandated minimum competency documents from seven states: Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas. Each description provides a picture of the general nature of the state requirements and a discussion of the specific writing skills requirements. The procedures used to compile a…

This document presents the graduation requirements of the Bloomfield Hills public schools. It includes the credits that must be earned in grades 10-12 and the minimum competencies that must be achieved in each of 14 areas, including measurement skills, speaking skills, communication skills, employment and career skills, and physical fitness.…

Examines the issue of minimum competency testing. Advantages and disadvantages are listed and differences in approaches to implementation are discussed. Problems which arise for teachers are listed along with suggestions for how to handle them. (JMB)

However feasible or easy it is to do minimum competency testing, the difficult task will be to defend doing it. (Author)

Discusses the use of the computer in teaching accounting. (JOW)

This paper describes the California Basic Education Skills Test (CBEST), the educator response to it, and its effect at the district and individual levels. Questions are raised regarding the implications that implementation of present policy have for future students and teachers in California. (MT)

A school structure is proposed that includes automatic student promotion each school year and educates each student to his or her true potential. (MD)

Discusses the minimum competency testing movement and the unresolved issues concerning it. Indicates that until the issues are settled, there will continue to be controversy and legal activity. (JOW)

This paper describes a project of the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Project Definition and Selection of Competencies: Theoretical and Conceptual Foundations (Project DeSeCo). DeSeCo was designed to complement past and current international comparative assessments by providing theoretical and conceptual foundations…