Describes the process of developing the national standards for the health science career cluster. Describes a pilot test sponsored by Health Occupations Students of America and addresses the process of standards-based instruction. (JOW)

Describes process of changing a university-based alternative secondary-science teacher-certification program. (Contains 18 references.) (PKP)

This study compared practicing counselors who are licensed and not licensed on four aspects of empowerment: collective identity, propensity to act, self-concept, and overall empowerment. Results revealed that nonlicensed counselors scored significantly higher on collective identity, propensity to act, and overall empowerment. (Contains 24…

Offers recommendations for the conduct of practice analysis (i.e., job analysis) concerning these issues: (1) selecting a method of practice analysis; (2) developing rating scales; (3) determining the content of test plans; (4) using multi-variate procedures for structuring test plans; and (5) determining topic weights for test plans. (SLD)

Explains the development of Florida's certification examination for prospective drama teachers. Describes its process design and the participation of drama educators from around the state as keys to the test's successful development. (SR)

The national skill standards project may take 10 years to complete and will be expensive to set up and maintain. Getting consensus from industry, unions, and educators and ensuring checks for fairness and nondiscrimination pose challenges. (SK)

A literature review examined what aspects of performance should be assessed, what methods are appropriate, whether competency-based assessments should be graded, whether assessments should be done in the workplace or training institutions, and whose responsibility they are. Competence should be very broadly defined as both technical skills and as…

Schiro-Geist and Donlon describe the development of five types of credentials for rehabilitation professionals in workers' compensation, addressing the importance of accreditation to monitoring minimum standards. Comments by Thomas and Nolte are provided. (SK)

Describes briefly the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards and its assessment methods. (SR)

Traces historical development of regulatory practices in school psychology for individual and institutional credentials. Presents certification from state departments of education, licensure by state psychology boards, and credentials administered by professional groups (National Register of Health Services Providers in Psychology, National School…

Responding to Joe Smith's unfavorable comments concerning Texas' alternative certification program in the November 1991 issue of "Educational Leadership," this article claims the Texas program is highly successful, thanks to school-university cooperation and closely supervised teacher interns. New Jersey's failures cannot be likened to…

Discusses computerized testing and certification and proposes three levels of certification testing, each one corresponding to a different notion of competent performance, from basic knowledge to expert performance. Declarative and procedural knowledge are defined; performance-based tests are discussed; and testing for problem-solving ability is…

Examined whether course work in special education was required for certification of elementary school counselors. Findings from 46 supervisors of teacher certification revealed that 11 states required at least 1 course in special education for certification of school counselors. Seventeen states were in process of changing certification…

John Goodlad's article in the same "Kappan" issue ignores the most promising approach to teacher preparation woes: alternative certification. As a collaboratively developed, thorough teacher preparation program, alternative certification (such as in Texas) demonstrates that universities need not be the primary purveyors of pedagogical…

The Association of Teacher Educators is establishing a commission through which members of many professions will examine how they can contribute to preparation of educational leaders. Goals include establishing standards and quality indicators and collecting and disseminating data. (SK)