An overview is provided of the enrollment patterns and academic progress of the fall 1986 new student cohort at St. Louis Community College (SLCC), the first cohort included in the college's longitudinal tracking system. The report highlights the following findings about the 5,993 students who were tracked through spring 1991: (1) 57.6% of the…

The vision of the Goals 2000 program for educational improvement leads to the fundamental question of what we want students to know. School districts throughout the country are beginning to grapple with this question, and some national efforts have been made to help them. The National Council on Education Standards and Testing has recommended…

This document describes South Carolina's progress during 1991-92 toward achieving the six National Education Goals, first formulated at a meeting between the U.S. president and the 50 state governors in September, 1989. The goals, which are listed at the beginning of this report, are targeted respectively at: (1) school readiness; (2) school…

This report presents findings from the 3rd year of a 4-year study of the impact of educational reform on at-risk students in Texas. Specifically, the study examined the effect of four reforms on at-risk students--the attendance policy, the no pass/no play rule, the driver's license law, and the TEAMS/TAAS (Texas Educational Assessment of Minimum…

A profile of graduation rates and time-to-degree was generated for undergraduates entering California State University in fall 1978 or fall 1979, as first-time freshmen (n=53,445) and community college transfer students (n=44,992). The profile analyzes: (1) the proportion of new students who ultimately graduate; (2) the distribution of degrees…

An analysis of 12,000 1982 high school graduates' transcripts, as part of a study conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics, substantiates the National Commission on Excellence in Education's (NCEE) concern about students' insufficient coursework in the new basics: English, mathematics, science, social studies, and computer…

Competency testing often refers to a system devised to assure successful performance on a specific test, in addition to other mandated criteria as a requisite to obtaining a high school diploma. Minimum competency testing is usually defined in one of two ways: as the acquisition of basic skills or as the demonstrated ability to apply basic skills…

Information on the senior year at Northwestern University, Illinois, and suggestions for providing focus to the last year of undergraduate study are presented, based on a needs assessment conducted by the Curricular Policies Committee of the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS). Department heads and other staff were contacted to obtain a profile of…

This survey was requested by the National Commission on Excellence in Education to provide input from schools, colleges, and departments of education (SCDE's) on improving the quality of teacher education. Survey questions sought information on preferences for recommendations to make curriculum more rigorous, raise entrance criteria, and extend…

The problem of setting standards has always been an issue in the educational community. This paper offers an outline of one state's procedure for setting a passing score for a competency-based test in mathematics. The Maryland Functional Mathematics Test (MFMT) becomes a graduation prerequisite for the graduating class of 1987. The procedures used…

This report presents and analyzes statistical data on the status and condition of American youth, ages 16-24. A brief commentary on the problems of collecting data concerning Hispanic youth precedes the report's seven main sections, which deal with the following topics: population; marriage; childbearing and living arrangements; family income and…

Intended for students taking the Grade 12 Diploma Examinations in English 30 in Alberta, Canada, this questions booklet contains 80 multiple choice test items based on the nine selections in an accompanying readings booklet. The questions examine the students' skills in: (1) understanding meanings; (2) recalling materials read; (3) understanding…

This report provides information on degree and certificate programs offered and student program completions for 1988-89 in North Dakota's postsecondary educational institutions, both public and private. An introductory section lists the members of the North Dakota State Board of Higher Education; the chief administrators of North Dakota's…

There is a paucity of information on college outcomes of Native Americans, matriculation and retention rates, factors that contribute to institutional holding power, and barriers to Native American achievement. This paper presents the results of a questionnaire survey of 79 two- and four-year colleges and universities that serve the largest…

Results of an evaluative study of the Texas Alternative Certification Program (ACP), conducted by the Texas Educational Agency staff during the 1988-89 school year, are reported. The first ACP was implemented in a single urban school district during the 1985-86 school year. The program was designed, in part, to address the shortage of teachers. By…