A survey of minimum competency requirements of state education departments shows that, in 13 states, teacher training institutions must verify students' competencies, and that in four states, teachers must pass the National Teachers' Examination. Florida and Georgia teachers must pass competency tests and demonstrate skills during their first year…

Describes laboratory activities which encourage students to develop and test hypotheses related to the effects of changing environmental factors on plant growth. Uniform (fair) testing and careful observation and measurement, supplemented by graphing, are emphasized as important in reaching valid conclusions. (JM)

This article describes procedures used at Pennsylvania State University to assess basic skills of applicants to the secondary school teacher education program. Tests given prior to student teaching assignments measure reading, writing, and speaking competencies. Test development and validation activities are explained. (PP)

Design problems of a school curriculum plan (those which result when elements required to attain quality control are not present or not functionally linked one to the other) and delivery problems (implementation) are discussed in relation to school curriculum management. Problem intervention and improvement are noted. Eleven references are cited.…

Concludes that the measurement of reading ability in the deaf by the Picture Assisted Reading Test is hampered by the strategies used by students attempting to complete the test. (FL)

The relationships among scores on traditional college entrance tests and scores on an essay placement test for women and men and four ethnic groups were examined. The tests correlated highly with essay performance. However, women tended to be underestimated and men and ethnic minorities overestimated by these measures. (Author/PN)

Compared the cost effectiveness of the social learning approach and the social learning approach with reinforcement to increase targeted social skills with socially withdrawn/isolate children. The frequency of four behaviours were observed. The social learning approach with reinforcement was more cost effective, thus more feasible. (Author)

Examined teacher and mental health professional's ratings of the seriousness of 50 behavior problems and compared results to those of Wickman (1928). Found an increase in the similarity between teachers' and mental health professionals' judgments and between children's and teachers' judgments. (Author/JAC)

Describes computer-assisted instruction and testing system used at University of Wisconsin which gives students opportunity to take individualized quizzes via interactive terminal, assigns individual students remedial work based on quiz performance, and accumulates student performance data for immediate use by instructor. Conversions to several…

Two central aspects of the teacher-testing movement are addressed: (1) assumptions that form the basis for the prescription that teachers should be tested; and (2) the various domains in which testing might take place. Recommendations for teacher education institutions concerning appropriate use of competency testing are given. (PP)

Five legal principles (and cases establishing them) on the use of competency testing in student placement or for graduation are discussed. The principles address the constitutionality of appropriate use, adequate notice to students, prohibition of effects of past racial discrimination, graduation test validity, and requirements for handicapped…

Argues that only when educators understand the mutual interaction of the educational system and the economy, join local and state coalitions to address the underlying issues producing the current fiscal crisis, and work for local control can economic conditions affecting the schools change and allow educational quality to improve. (Author/PGD)

Examined the relationship between performance on the Expressive One-Word Picture Vocabulary Test (EOWPVT) and other verbal and nonverbal ability measures in a group of preschool borderline retarded children. Results tentatively support the use of the EOWPVT as a measure of verbal intelligence in this population. (Author/JAC)

Investigated teachers' ability to identify students at-risk for failure. Found correlations between teachers' ratings and standard measures of intelligence and ability of 337 sixth graders were highly significant and predictive of high school grades. At-risk students were significantly less academically able, more anxious and had lower…

Compared three methods of training remedial reading tutors. All groups made significant improvements. The group that practiced the skills and received feedback made the greatest gains. The group that observed a model was significantly better than the lecture group. (Author/JAC)