In this paper, the Wisconsin State Superintendent of Public Instruction reviews issues surrounding competency testing and describes Wisconsin's response to a nationwide effort to enhance student learning through competency based education. Efforts of the past two decades to improve traditional educational practice in Wisconsin are outlined.…

The research reported in this paper attempted to determine what constitutes superior teaching, and what manipulable extrinsic incentives exist in education to motivate teachers to become superior teachers. The project additionally tried to determine the degree of consensus among teachers and administrators on these issues. Finally, equity, or…

One of a series of reports concerned with the creation of new evaluation methodologies for use in education, this report contains a collection of thirteen brief statements of problems encountered first-hand by evaluation practitioners in state departments of education (SEAs). Its intent is to make available practitioner statements so that further…

As defined by the Vocational Amendments of 1976, cooperative education is a program (method) of vocational education for persons who, through written cooperative agreements between the school and employers, receive instruction, including required academic courses and related vocational instruction by alternation of study in school with a job in…

An audio-tutorial approach that has been implemented at Indiana University in Bloomington focuses on student learning rather than the mechanism of teaching. The basic component of an audio-tutorial course is a taped presentation that acts as a tutor, guiding the students through a sequence of readings, filmstrips, diagrams, tables, and other…

The educational accountability movement is changing the teacher's role in curriculum development from that of autonomous decision maker to agent of public school policy makers. To assess teacher reactions to factors influencing their autonomy, 75 teachers were exposed to pressures to change the content of fourth grade mathematics instruction in a…

As a result of the 1976 Educational Accountability Act, minimal competency tests were developed for grades 3, 5, 8 and 11 by the Florida State Board of Education. Results of the first administration of the 11th grade tests showed that the failure rate for minority black students was much higher than for white students. Results of the tests…

This study examines the effectiveness of an accountability system--Alter--whose aim is to facilitate long-term planning. The purpose of the study was to develop a model that school systems can use in implementing accountability systems. The project explored the idea that when formal management systems are introduced into schools, they ignore…

Divided into five chapters, this user's manual is intended to assist local educators in the assessment of their career education programs. The first chapter discusses the purposes of evaluation. Chapter 2 provides a quick overview of the basic evaluation steps, while the remaining chapters provide the necessary details to implement these eleven…

Florida's Educational Accountability Act of 1976 requires that each school district in the state establish a comprehensive program for pupil progression. The Duval County plan establishes procedures to be followed in matters of promotion, retention or special assignment, and graduation. The plan also outlines promotion and placement within…

Since literacy tests determine instruction, they should be designed to match well-defined instructional goals. They should be evaluated and implemented by those who teach literacy in consultation with other interested parties and should function to improve teaching as well as to evaluate students. Writing abilities should be measured directly or…

New Jersey requires an annual evaluation and classification of schools based on: development and implementation of an educational plan, achievement of statewide standards in basic skills, and compliance with state and federal laws and regulations. Guidelines for the evaluation criteria and procedures are given. Data are collected through the…

The handbook provides an overview of residential services for mentally retarded persons. An introductory section defines the term and cites major problems associated with the service. Philosophy and 13 basic principles are covered in the second chapter. Among the goals cited in Chapter 3 are learning to learn, skills training, and opportunities to…

Those concerned about promoting children's academic achievement must first be concerned about insuring all children the right to adequate food, shelter, security, and love. When these elemental needs have been met, students are then free to respond to their need to know and understand. If schools can respond to children's needs to belong, to be…

Employees in different kinds of organizations were surveyed for their perceptions of their companies' client and operational problem-solving networks. The individuals came from a manufacturing firm, a community college, a telephone company, a farmers' cooperative, and a hospital. Interviews were conducted with those people reporting numerous…