This paper presents four major teacher education reform thrusts in the United States, touching on several important characteristics of the U.S. context for teacher education: the locus of control for education; both private and public control over teacher education; the loss of faith in education; disagreement over whether teacher education needs…

This monograph offers information and resources to help school districts build the capacity to transform professional development. Part 1, "Ohio's Professional Development System," discusses the transformation of professional development in Ohio and explains what professional development is. Part 2, "Requirements and…

This report presents findings from the survey, Nutrition Education in U.S. Public Schools, Elementary Teacher Survey, K-5, which followed a federal initiative to improve the quantity and quality of nutrition education in public elementary classrooms. Survey results indicated that 52 percent of elementary teachers had formal training to teach about…

This paper examines Florida's standards-driven performance assessment, emphasizing teacher preparation, and touching on K-12 accountability. Florida's educational reform and accountability efforts are driven by the Florida System of School Improvement and Accountability document. The system is derived from state goals similar to the national Goals…

This paper chronicles the development of national performance-based, subject matter knowledge and competencies standards for the preparation of new social studies teachers, exploring the implications of their recent implementation by colleges and universities nationally. The standards are at the forefront of performance assessments of beginning…

This fact sheet describes the role of the transition specialist, an individual who plans, coordinates, delivers, and evaluates transition educational services at the school or system level, in conjunction with other educators, families, students, and representatives of community organizations. It summarizes the competencies for transition…

This report by Delaware's Governor and Secretary of Education, in consultation with the State Board of Education, sets forth a plan to improve professional standards and accountability in the Delaware school system. The report focuses on how Delaware can assure the quality of educators for its students, and thus raise student achievement. The…

This study examined whether sending frequent encouraging electronic mail (e-mail) messages to elementary and special education student teachers would improve their teaching skills and performance on the Praxis II Principles of Learning and Teaching examination. In 2001, 43 elementary and special education student teachers enrolled in a…

Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states are implementing policies that provide incentives to attract and retain teachers and increase student performance. Every state has unique priorities. This report includes a framework for thinking about priorities for a state based on the SREB's teacher supply and demand research (reducing new teacher…

Sixteen rural K-12 regular education teachers from West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania completed a certification program focusing on inclusive practices for successful integration of special education into regular education classrooms. Data on competency acquisition and use were collected prior to participation and 6 months following…

A survey examined the perceived roles and competencies of school personnel and parents involved in the transition planning process for special education students, and compared these perceptions in rural and nonrural areas. The study took place in two parts: first, a field study validated the questions in the survey instrument; second, the survey…

This manual assists American Federation of Teachers (AFT) and National Education Association (NEA) affiliates interested in developing peer assistance and/or peer assistance and review programs in their local sites. The first section provides the context in which these programs are developing and their importance to union efforts to increase…

The growing belief that North Carolina's schools need to be up to international standards led the Public School Forum of North Carolina to launch its twelfth Study Group, addressing three questions: (1) What would it take to bring North Carolina's teaching of mathematics and science up to internationally competitive standards?; (2) How could North…

Reviews the procedures used by James Madison University (Virginia) to develop an assessment plan for the Health Sciences major. The assessment program included cognitive areas, basic competencies of entry-level health educators, student teaching, alumni surveys, and information literacy. The assessment program was reviewed by outside peer…

Discusses problems with the use of technology, especially the Internet, for providing inservice teacher education. Highlights include the gap between available technology and the expertise to use it; antiquated hardware; the rapid growth and acceptance of the World Wide Web and graphical browsers; and the expertise gap between rural and urban…