This article presents an overview of three undergraduate-level statistical consulting courses being taught at institutions of different size (small, medium, and large). Topics that will be discussed include the evolution of these courses, thoughts on what makes such courses successful, potential pitfalls to watch for, the necessary minimal skills…

The Austin (Texas) Independent School District (AISD) required that all students who graduated in 1985-86 and previous years have skills in reading and mathematics equivalent to ninth-grade level or above. Special education students who could not be validly tested were exempted from the requirements. Students who had not met the requirements could…

Prior to the Virginian Standards of Learning Program most curriculum guidance was provided by the Board of Education through course requirement in-service sessions and through legislative action on mandated topics. The Standards of Learning Program gave Virginia teachers primary responsibility for establishing minimum competencies and assessment…

A study was conducted to assess the impact of the Florida State Student Assessment Test (FSSAT) (Functional Literacy Test) on the enrollment in secondary-level vocational education courses. The 67 school districts in Florida were grouped according to population density into three levels of urbanization (low, medium, and high). Ten percent of the…

Presented is a collection of reports on the status of competency-based mathematical education in the schools of 25 countries, and is the culmination of five years' work by the International Study Group on Minimal Competencies in Mathematics. Most reports summarize the trends and prevailing opinions about curricular implications of emphasis on…

In an examination of the implications and effects of the competency testing movement on the discipline of English, the six chapters of this book answer major questions concerning what competency in English is, what is known about the assessment of competence in English, and how minimal competency in English can be defined and assessed. The first…

A cooperative writing assessment program between a college and seven public school districts was designed to demonstrate that the writing skills necessary for adequate composing were not those that could be measured by an objective test. The goals of the program were to (1) analyze the rhetorical skills of sixth and eighth grade students, (2)…

This document is the first of a two-part series designed to help teachers, schools, and districts to implement standards-based instruction. Part 1, The Foundation for Improvement, explains why standards-based instruction improves teaching and learning. Part 2, First Steps to a Standards-Based Classroom, describes how to adapt the curriculum to…

This article describes four possible conceptions of education, each with its own standards of excellence. These conceptions are called the technical, the rational, the personal, and the social. The authors argue for adoption of the social responsibility conception of educational excellence as a national goal. (MT)

Few terms have been as misused and as overused as the term "competence." This article attempts to clarify the meaning of the term by describing four common conceptions of competence. (Author/CB)

Many mastery decisions are made based on assessment devices that are known to be less than perfectly reliable. A significant portion of examinees who have scores near the cutting score risk misclassification, even for instruments with relatively high retest reliability. Suggestions for minimizing this risk are offered. (Author/MT)

This article presents an annotated bibliography of journal articles and documents which discuss both theoretical and research findings related to issues surrounding the concept of overlap between standardized tests and the content, curricular, and instructional domains of teaching and learning. (MT)

This paper explores the minimum competency testing clarification hearing in order to better understand the strengths and weaknesses of adversary evaluation as a vehicle for clarifying matters of public policy interest. Problems with the hearing format and suggestions for improvement are discussed. (BW)

Although keyboarding is not complex, it is a skill that every graduate needs. Minimum skill levels and alternatives for teaching and learning it must be considered and studied. (JOW)

Describes the implementation of a minimum competency testing program in North Boone Senior High School in Poplar Grove (Illinois). Includes eight questions to be asked in planning for such a program. (Author/WD)