Since the mid-1970s, at least 20 states have instituted standardized tests that must be passed before students can receive a high school diploma. This paper draws on data collected in four states to explore some of the lasting effects of competency test legislation. Of particular interest is student awareness of these tests. A survey of 733…

The evolution and activities of the Allegheny Foreign Language Association (AFLA) are described in the context of the organization of foreign language education in the area and the attitudes of the professionals involved. Foreign language instruction in Allegheny County includes: Pittsburgh public school programs, including elementary magnet…

A teaching handbook accompanying North Carolina's revised competency-based curriculum for second language instruction in elementary and secondary schools is presented. An introductory section outlines the philosophy and rationale behind the curriculum and its revision, discusses the role of thinking skills in learning, briefly describes programs…

The level of equivalence was compared for three kindergarten through grade 12 exit programs: (1) the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program; (2) the Division IV program through the regular high school channel; and (3) the General Educational Development (GED) tests. Comparisons were made for: time spent in course completion; objectives; emphasis of…

The Copernican Plan is a way to organize high schools on the basis of research and experience concerning more effective and efficient instruction. Research indicates that large-block scheduling has proven to be very successful. In the plan, each student will enroll in one class at a time for about 4 hours each day for a period of 30 days. An…

The manual is intended to help local education agencies implement Georgia's laws for providing effective instructional programs for deaf-blind children. A definition and eligibility criteria for deaf-blind children are presented. A section discussing due process considers screening, referral, comprehensive evaluation, individualized education…

This paper reports on the New Jersey State Department of Education's research process for developing a scoring rubric that assesses test objectives and higher order thinking skills through writing. New Jersey's statewide assessment program includes a written essay portion to test students' ability to write on a given topic and communicate an…

This report outlines proposed revisions of state educational priorities and expectations for student performance and requirements for school compliance. The proposed Regents goals for students include skills and characteristics to be acquired, and the action plan focuses on aspects of the instructional program including required courses, content…

Requirements of Mississippi legislation designed to upgrade student achievement and school personnel competence, reward good teaching, increase accountability, and facilitate state level educational leadership are clarified in this implementation guide. For each section of the Reform Act the rationale is summarized, statutory citations provided,…

The study was intended to determine the basis of intra- and interstate credit transfer for migrant students and how credit transfer can be improved. The Secretaries of Education Committees in State Legislatures and Departments of Education in Puerto Rico and all states except California responded to an open-ended survey. Over 80% of all states…

This survey was conducted to determine how state education agencies were addressing the issue of mathematics, science, and vocational education. Questions concerned (1) the current state of their vocational programs in relation to increased emphasis on mathematics and science for high school students; (2) presence or absence of a state policy that…

On the basis of research reports, a survey of secondary school principals, a public opinion survey, state comparisons, public hearing testimony, and findings from high school visitations, the Michigan Commission on High Schools developed recommendations for improving seven aspects of secondary education in Michigan. First, the commission…

A technical advisory committee assisted the Alabama State Department of Education in establishing passing scores and equating test forms of the Alabama High School Graduation Examination (AHSGE). The committee examined four methods of setting cutting scores: (1) Jensen's theoretical method--probability theory is used to set standards that are…

A study examined the effects of increased academic requirements for graduation on secondary vocational enrollments in Colorado. After identifying 111 of the school districts in Colorado that have recently increased their graduation requirements (representing 61 percent of the 180 school districts in the State), researchers randomly selected five…

In 1980, Oregon State University began a program going beyond the usual procedure for students of English as a second language (ESL), which involved putting them in intensive English programs until they could pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language and then sending them on to a regular academic program. It was found that this traditional…