The graduation and attrition patterns of black students at North Carolina State University are reported in an effort to provide data pertinent to minority students. Black students were identified after 1969 by means of an ethnic card completed during the registration process. The report is based on all black students (N=80) who entered NCSU as new…

Competency-based instructional programs are being discussed in many, and enacted in some, educational districts. Reports of this process from Oregon, California, and Ohio are included among the 12 entries in an annotated bibliography. All entries are from the ERIC system. (MLF)

Alternative high schools have developed three basic responses to the question of graduation requirements: no requirements, the basic class/credit system with many options available under it, and a restructuring so that requirements are based on demonstrated competence in areas determined by the alternative school community. The competency approach…

Tests that require high school students to demonstrate minimum skills for graduation are challenged, tough campaigns are being started to check student violence, profit-making schools are growing in popularity, and new efforts are made to halt the continuing decline in the study of foreign languages. (Editor/RK)

The Springfield Project was developed to insure that students leaving the school system with a high school diploma have adequate mastery of basic skills. Describes the development of the project, a summary report on mathematics competencies as well as reading, language arts, and English competencies and evaluates the current status of the project.…

The key elements to this plan for special education students are keeping a check on student achievement throughout all the grades, communicating with parents about student deficiencies, and requiring competency tests of all high school students. (Author/IRT)

The interview with the social studies coordinator for the Minnesota Department of Education discusses development of a competence-based graduation test, definitions of "selected educational learner outcomes" (SELOs), relationship of Minnesota's SELOs to national standards, and problems of testing skills and attitudes. (AV)

The final (high school graduation) examination in French is uniform throughout West Germany, but the states have autonomy in building their course plans. A comparison of curricula reveals many differences, resulting in a difference in the proficiency of graduates. Their final examination scores are not comparable. (Text is in German.) (IFS/WGA)

Describes the results of a December 1986 telephone survey disclosing 19 states with mandated or recommended minimum high school course requirements for admission to public colleges and universities. An additional eight states are reported by the Educational Testing Service as having such requirements. Included are a table of mandated requirements…

The Philadelphia Business Academy is a vocational work-study program based on a public education/private industry partnership. The program is undergoing modifications in response to new state requirements for school promotions. The moderations are detrimental to the unique features of this program and may affect its future success. (VM)

The relationship between the design of federal student aid subsidies (Title IV of the Higher Education Act) and student enrollment and persistence decisions is discussed. It is suggested that incentives should be provided for students to obtain degrees and certificates. (MLW)

Summarizes information on learning disabilities and foreign language learning and details the University of Pennsylvania's policy on exempting learning disabled students from foreign language requirements. The policy for exemption involves the review of students' case histories, evidence of effort made, and satisfactory performance in other…

Outlines statistical data on national curriculum patterns. Fewer than two percent of all graduating seniors meet or exceed the standards for college-bound students. Includes statistical data on courses students study, number of students per computer, dropout rates, activities of graduates, and test score averages.(MD)

Describes Newfoundland's method of identifying discrepancies among high school graduation marks and the consequences for students of adjustments made to reduce the differences. Notes effect of size of school, random error, and influence of school or teacher on differences. Considers three sets of assumptions necessary for the analysis. (SB)

Presents findings from a national survey measuring the public's response to academic reform in secondary schools. Results show the public supports improvement of academic standards but also wants the existing structure and organization of schools to be maintained. Includes four tables. (MD)