This article looks at the characteristics of New Jersey's alternate route program and outlines the processes and guidelines which distinguish this program from the traditional teacher education program. (MT)

The number of states mandating competency testing of teachers grew from three in 1977 to 30 in 1982, and 12 states are in the planning stages. An emerging trend is the requirement of a year of internship prior to issuance of a teaching certificate. (MT)

West Virginia's "Master Plan for Public Education" calls for a Professional Performance Assessment of student teachers in field-based programs. The challenge is to incorporate the assessments in the least intrusive manner. While there is skepticism, some cooperating teachers hope the screening will result in better-prepared student…

This bibliography represents a personal selection, focusing primarily on the use of group paper-and-pencil tests to assess teacher competence. It is organized in terms of general information, political issues, legal issues, national teacher examinations, defining competence, measurement issues, and technical information. (MT)

The importance of specific competencies for bachelor's level and master's level school health educators in Florida is examined in this article. A survey instrument utilizing a five-point scale was administered to respondents to ascertain the importance of various competencies. Data analysis and implications for professional preparation programs…

Samples of handicapped and nonhandicapped pupils were compared on the following: initial Minimum Competency Test (MCT) performance, participation in remediation, improvements in subsequent MCT, and eligibility for receiving high school diplomas. Nonhandicapped pupils generally fared better on all measures, although sharp differences were found…

The Connecticut Assessment of Educational Progress assesses writing traits using different approaches to diagnose students' skills. These include multiple choice, direct assessment, "revising test," dictation, and note-taking. These measures and scoring guides are used to assess several elements of good writing. (DWH)

In the current educational reform movement, the most sobering issue is the relationship between achievement and race. None of the recent major educational reform reports face up to the reality that raising minimum standards and imposing minimum requirements simply increase the failure rate among Blacks. (CMG)

This 2004 revision represents a refinement of the competencies to reflect current technologies and to incorporate future technological developments. The three Competency Goals are unchanged from those adopted for the 1992 Standard Course of Study. They are: (1) The learner will understand important issues of a technology-based society and will…

Suggests that industrial arts students need to be able to read and understand the vocabulary of their chosen professions. Describes a study that investigated students' knowledge by presenting a task that required the selection of occupational terms corresponding to written definitions. Includes teaching strategies. (JOW)

Discusses the results of a survey to gather information on the state of the art of testing writing proficiency at the college level. According to the results, many respondents did note positive side effects of the unprecedented growth in testing, particularly its influence on the direction of writing curricula. (HTH)

Looks at traditional procedures for reading instruction and analyzes the problems inherent in them. Proposes a thematic approach to instruction as an alternative. (FL)

Reports on Matthew Arnold's attack on nineteenth century England's proposed proficiency testing program. Discusses the lessons to be learned today from Arnold's objections to proficiency testing. (RL)

Contends that librarians are educators, not passive instruments of information processing. As such, the better prepared and more open the educating librarian is, the greater the contribution to intellectual freedom. Minimum employment qualifications must consider and include broad skills beyond the basic library competencies. Four references are…

Describes the steps that a school district should follow in the first stages of implementing a minimum competency testing program: preparatory activities, defining the project, identifying existing tests, evaluating tests, developing a local test, and sharing knowledge. (Author)