California's new standards for training future school counselors link to the current national movement for school reform, ensuring the next generation of school counselors can advocate for both students and for the changes needed in the school counseling profession. (Author)

Recent studies have explored whether employers use educational qualifications as screening device, rather than as measure of acquired human capital. One method for testing a strong version of the screening hypothesis was suggested by Psacharopoulos and applied to British data, with negative conclusions. This paper applies the same "P"…

Proposes changes in the title and structure of nonpsychology doctoral training in counselor education. Suggests a comprehensive linkage system of training, accreditation, credentialing, and employment. Expresses concern that the nonpsychology doctorate degree in counseling is steadily losing ground in the job market to the doctorate in counseling…

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…

Asserts that, since most states now have counselor licensure, the National Board for Certified Counselors and the National certification process itself may be obsolete. Authors question whether the National Counselor Exam differentiates between effective and ineffective counselors and question why only 8% of American Counseling Association members…

Focuses on the use of skill competency lists in occupational programs and the credentialing of skill proficiencies. Data from two National Center for Education Statistics surveys show that most secondary schools with one or more of the relevant occupational programs had developed or adopted skill competency lists for their programs. (Author/SLD)

A key Dutch policy has been enabling people to acquire minimum competencies for labor market entry and continued employment. However, policy should not be interpreted rigidly. Lack of initial qualifications is not necessarily related to early school leaving, and initial competence should include the foundation for lifelong learning. (SK)

In this article, the authors discuss the problematic trends affecting New England's human capital. These trends include migration to other states of New England's graduates due to high cost of living; more than 60 percent of college dropouts; and the decision of most companies to outsource jobs in India and other countries.

Professional preparation in educational administration has been a university-based state requirement that oriented aspiring school administrators to the roles of principal or superintendent. Professional and state expectations for preparation, development, and credentialing are shifting as the complexity of leadership and administration has…

The GED (General Educational Development) Tests are widely used to certify a high school level of academic knowledge and skills. The popularity and profound influence of the GED Tests have solicited numerous studies on the outcomes of obtaining a GED credential. Most studies on labor market outcomes for GED credential recipients have targeted…

Research has identified certain comprehension strategies that seem to work in an optimal manner to increase the reading comprehension of K-12 students. However, little evidence exists about whether teachers use identified, research-based strategies when teaching. In view of the critical nature of literacy achievement for diverse populations and…

This paper is one of a series being prepared by the Center for Law and Social Policy that is intended to inform the decisions of state legislators, program administrators, service providers, and advocates and to enable policy choices that simultaneously help low income families improve their labor market success and states meet federal…

This paper provides an analysis into the global phenomenon known as credential/qualification fraud, a $US 1 billion dollar "cottage" industry which has tainted higher education in Australia, and does not appear to be abating. The study is developed through a conceptual framework of credentialism, degree creep and screening theory, which…

In 1994, The Michigan Association for Infant Mental Health (MI-AIMH) began the development of a credentialing process to define the skills and experiences needed by professionals in the infant mental health field. This article describes MI-AIMH's process to identify competencies for best practices and to establish a comprehensive system for the…

This study examines the demographic, academic, social, and behavioral differences between GED (General Educational Development) candidates who were and were not retained in grade. Differences between candidates who were and were not retained in grade are examined with regard to factors such as demographics, delinquent behaviors, reasons for…