Education researchers and policymakers agree that teachers differ in terms of quality and that quality matters for student achievement. Despite prodigious amounts of research, however, debate still persists about the causal relationship between specific teacher credentials and student achievement. In this paper, we use a rich administrative data…

These proceedings contain 17 papers from plenary sessions, workshops, and other presentations at a conference to consider and clarify major issues in assessment and standards in vocational education and training, including identification of problems and suggested solutions. A summary of discussions follows most presentations. Plenary session…

A study was conducted to support the Department of Labor's (DOL) efforts to promote an expansion of the apprenticeship training system. The study began with a review of literature that clearly showed the need for attention in the area of establishing credentials to reflect the quality of training experiences, particularly in the work-based format…

The results of an evaluation study of a university Child Development Associate (CDA) training program are summarized, focusing on the characteristics of this non-traditional educational program and its effects on the classroom performance and personal development of its adult students. The subjects were 215 female preschool teachers and staff…

Stephens College Without Walls will grant college credits for prior experiential learning, if properly documented. Proficiency examinations, non-college transcript credit, work experiences, volunteer activities, homemaking, workshops or seminars, recreational activities or hobbies, independent reading, or licenses are categories of experiences for…

The City and Guild of London Institute was set up about one hundred years ago in England to create links among schools, industry, and apprenticeship programs in order to provide examinations to qualify persons entering various trades. Today, the Institute provides services for vocational education according to this procedure: (1) agrees with…

The aim of this report was to quantify the benefit, in terms of higher wages, of completing a vocational education and training (VET) qualification. Two factors influenced the direction of this research. First of all, VET is concerned primarily with improvements in skill levels (with a likely consequence of improved productivity and therefore…

The perceptions of human resource (HR) managers and information technology (IT) professionals regarding the influence of industry-sponsored credentials (ISCs) on recruitment, training, career development, and selected organizational outcomes were examined. Data were collected from 33 (66%) of 50 HR executives surveyed and from a Web-based survey…

Voluntary skill standards are industry-based, industry-verified performance specifications that identify the knowledge, skills, and abilities individuals need for success in an industry. This resource guide is designed to raise awareness of voluntary skill standards, identify their benefits, and encourage stakeholder involvement in implementation…

This document is comprised of the 12 monthly issues of a newsletter providing support and information for providers of child care for school-age children. The featured articles for each month are: (1) "Re-Evaluating Praise" (September); (2) "Making the Season Brighter: Tips To Create More Inclusive Holiday Programs" (October);…

This annual performance report describes activities of Colorado's statewide system of early intervention services and supports in compliance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) from July 1, 1998 through September 30, 1999. The report discusses: (1) interagency agreements; (2) agencies involved in the provision of…

The majority of graduate programs in communication sciences and disorders train generalists who may not be prepared for the unique demands of employment in the schools (e.g., curriculum-based assessments, classroom-based interventions, collaborative consultation) because the complexities of caseloads and the roles and responsibilities of…

This study was designed to ascertain, from the empirical evidence available, the common characteristics of successful licensure efforts in the allied health occupations. A pattern of three steps to licensure for health care occupations emerged from the literature. The first step is birth (of a new occupation), often caused by new technology (new…

Educational institutions need to help women get a better education by taking into account the learning they have acquired through experience in homemaking, volunteer work, and other activities. This paper examines the need for recognition of women's prior learning by educational institutions and delves into some of the intricacies of the process.…

The Task Force on Educational Credit and Credentials of the American Council on Education undertook a two-year study to determine how postsecondary education's system for awarding credit and credentials can be changed or its adequacy improved to meet today's educational and social needs. This book sets forth the Task Force's report and…