The Electronics Industry Association is developing consistent, industry-based, voluntary national skill standards to improve the competence expected of and achieved by work-ready electronics technicians. Participants contribute through an executive advisory board, technical committee, or ad hoc groups. (JOW)

Alternative teacher certification evolved in many states as a response to projected teacher shortages, especially among minority teachers. Despite scant research on effectiveness, many are taking these alternative routes to teaching. (SK)

Four conditions for creating or refining alternative teacher certification programs are improving instruction, addressing shortages of qualified teachers, placing teachers in hard-to-staff schools, and measuring teacher competence. Programs should be pragmatic, market sensitive, embedded in the learning context, and performance driven. (SK)

Examined differences among certified rehabilitation counselors (n=1,535) in level of importance attributed to various knowledge domains. Found that grouping respondents according to employment setting and job title accounted for most frequent differences in knowledge importance among all variables examined. Respondents' educational background and…

Thirty-two vocational special needs paraprofessionals who attended a training certification workshop significantly increased their knowledge of and concern for special needs students. A comprehensive training model encompassing 12 special needs categories was developed. (SK)

State-level administrator certification requirements were studied with respect to student-assessment expectations, using responses of state certification offices. Only 18 states require some form of student-assessment knowledge and skills, and only Washington state requires the assessment competencies promulgated by the National Policy Board for…

Summarizes conceptualizations of sound teacher certification practices espoused by the courts and psychometricians, compares these conceptualizations, and provides suggestions for teacher certification testing programs that are legally and psychometrically defensible. (SLD)

Approaches to learner accreditation form a continuum ranging from institutions determining outcomes and content to empowerment of learners to use their own learning from experience in a way that meets their definition of what is credit worthy. (SK)

Discusses the increased use of unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) in direct patient care delivery as a result of rising health care costs. Looks at advantages and disadvantages of having registered nurses supervise UAP and suggests that the model is not necessarily cost-effective. (JOW)

Reviews general approaches to job analysis and considers methodological issues related to sampling and the development of rating scales used to measure and describe a profession or occupation. Evaluates the usefulness of different types of test plans and describes judgmental and empirical methods for using practice analysis data to help develop…

A model program for onsite teacher development to prepare and retain exemplary career and technical education teachers was designed to meet the needs of new teachers who came from industry backgrounds. Core elements include partnership with business- industry and universities and ongoing support for teaching strategies. (JOW)

Considers how Illinois has always tested teachers for certification, but now state officials are holding teacher education programs at colleges and universities accountable for "passing rates" on these examinations as part of the Federal Title II initiative which is intended to identify and make public "bad quality" teacher…

Certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is a symbol of professional teaching excellence that validates good teaching, creates excellent mentors and professional development opportunities, helps retain teachers, and has a positive impact on student learning. Today 47 states and nearly 400 school districts have…

Studied the first year of an experimental teacher certification program designed to prepare nontraditional teachers for urban classrooms. Data from 40 participants (average age 39.5 years) show the development of relationships among students and faculty that increased learning for all participants and reveal the challenges and compromises these…

A survey of 42 traditionally certified and 99 alternatively certified secondary marketing teachers showed some significant differences in concerns about human relations, classroom management, instructional methods, personal concerns, work conditions, evaluation, and professional growth. However, both groups showed low levels of concern overall.…