The effort to institute minimum competency testing (MCT) is nearly universal despite the need to debate its basic definitions, implications, and consequences beforehand. There are seven distinct reasons for the MCT movement: (1) legislative zeal; (2) unfavorable allegations by local and national press; (3) economic accountability; (4) the…

This handbook sets forth the regulations of the Kentucky State Board of Education that relate to teacher education and certification. The following topics are covered: (1) selected statutory provisions relating to teacher education and certification; (2) teacher certification procedures; (3) ranking of teacher qualifications; (4) procedures for…

Academic progress requirements of federally funded student aid programs administered by the Department of Education (ED), the Veterans Administration (VA), and the Social Security Administration (SSA) were investigated. Eighteen public and private two-year and four-year colleges, as well as one public vocational school and one proprietary school,…

The usefulness of equations to predict graduation from college was studied using data from the 1974 freshman class of a major research university. The following predictor variables were assessed using multiple regression and discriminant analyses: sex, race, residency, major, high school rank, high school size, Scholastic Aptitide Test scores, and…

Beginning with a description of adult diploma completion requirements for the El Paso school system, this compilation of program information offers reference material and guidelines for adult diploma and high school equivalency programs in many states. Oriented towards administrators who formulate program guidelines, this report furnishes…

Although junior colleges were originally established to provide the first two years of collegiate instruction, the mission of today's community college includes providing not only transfer education, but also certificate or associate degree vocational programs, adult continuing education, and community services. Therefore, the community college…

The first of three self-contained studies in this report characterizes those who chose to take the California High School Proficiency Examination and those who passed. Characteristics of examinees' families, schools, and communities were also identified. In the second report, a school financial simulation model calculated district revenues which…

The New York State Regents Competency Testing Program is described. Competency tests have been developed in the basic skills of reading, writing, and mathematics, for two purposes: (1) to identify those students who need remedial help; and (2) to assure that students receiving high school diplomas have acquired adequate competence in these areas.…

Examination of the impact of within-school educational practices on minority students between 1968 and 1982 reveals disparities between Black and White and/or Hispanic and White students in ability-grouping placements, disciplinary actions, and graduation ratios. Substantial differences in minority and White teacher/administrative employment…

Faced with increasing enrollment and state legislation requiring more laboratory work, this school system hired an architectural firm to devise a cost-effective "District-wide Science Facility Master Plan." The process of developing that plan and some of its conclusions are described here. Illustrations are provided. (DCS)

Testing programs enacted by the state legislature are changing and improving Florida's educational system in five areas: (1) setting standards for students; (2) making schools more accountable; (3) creating growth through competiton; (4) evaluating educational programs; and (5) assuring the competency of educators. (BS)

At a time when many states are becoming increasingly diverse, the need for more complete and useful measures of educational equality among ethnic and gender groups is critical. This study--funded by the Lumina Foundation for Education--examines disparities in educational attainment among race/ethnic and gender groups in the U.S. and within each…

To their disadvantage, few Americans--and few in higher education--know much about the successes of historically Black colleges and universities. How is it that historically Black colleges graduate so many low-income and academically poorly prepared students? How do they manage to do so well with students "as they are", even when…

This publication provides information relating to secondary occupational career and technical education program enrollments within Pennsylvania's public secondary schools. For school year 2004-05, Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) used the Career and Technical Education Information System (CATS) to collect individual student enrollment…

Perhaps the two most vexing measurement issues in higher education research are how to obtain true transfer rates from community colleges to four-year universities and the correct formula for the measure of college student retention, regardless of institutional type. All colleges and universities are required to submit retention figures to federal…