There is a great deal to think about in a minimum competency program: What competencies? How to measure? When to measure? One minimum or many? How high the minimum? Minimums for students or for schools? What to do with the incompetent? (Author/IRT)

The purpose of this proficiency legislation is to create a public dialogue regarding high school graduation standards, restore meaning to the high school diploma, and ensure that students who have difficulty with basic skills receive appropriate instruction. (Author/IRT)

The hypothesis analyzed in this study is that grade "inflation" may be reflecting real increases in student achievement, demographic factors that may be related to grading, or institutional grading policies that permit grade point averages to rise even if grading standards remain unchanged. (Editor/LBH)

The effect of increased enrollment is considered on: the provision of individual attention to students, degree of course rigorousness, student evaluation, and test construction. Results from Ohio State University suggest no evidence that increased enrollment has an adverse effect on scholarship. (LBH)

Examines the continuing controversy on test scores and student achievement in New Jersey. (RK)

A review of a book by John Valentine on the history of the College Board's influence on American education is presented with excerpts from the book. College Board's changing ties to secondary education, its leadership, and its history are described. (MLW)

An outspoken opponent of big-time college athletics expresses his objections to his university's choosing to upgrade its athletic program from Division III to Division I, and counters arguments commonly made in favor of Division I sports. (MSE)

Evidence is accumulating around the world that greatly increased access to higher education over the past two decades has come at a tremendous price--a severe decline in academic quality. Brief reports on the quality-quantity question and other major issues facing higher education in the world are presented. (MLW)

A new national program being developed by France's Ministry of Education will create nationally regulated certification of elementary level French language skills for foreigners. The certification is not attached to any course or curriculum but will be available to anyone with specific practical language competencies. (MSE)

Colleges are appointing senior-level people to handle public relations. Concerns about the public's skepticism include: setbacks in Congress, attacks on moneymaking operations, academic quality, dissatisfaction of employers, cynicism about college sports, anxieties about cost, competition for resources, scandals, etc. (MLW)

Examination of 99 mathematics teachers' ratings of item difficulty indicated that the ratings were influenced by the teachers' attitudes and characteristics and their interpretation of the skills measured by the items. Teachers who rated items as relatively easy tended to favor tougher standards, grade students in relation to other students, and…

Emerging themes in student assessment include: (1) faculty need to specify skills and knowledge expectations for effective assessment; (2) assessment criteria must be established; (3) there are many ways to assess student learning; and (4) faculty must become more involved in assessment. (MSE)

Presents the results of a study of the relationship between student academic achievement and compulsory and voluntary institutional remedial placement policies. Analyzes the characteristics and academic records of 6,117 students enrolled in remedial writing courses at 10 large metropolitan community colleges in the Midwest. (DMM)

The Soviet Union is undertaking a drive for excellence in higher education by tightening academic standards, closing weaker institutions, changing admission criteria, experimenting with instructional approaches in some institutions, and increasing efforts at labor force development and training programs tied to national economic needs. (MSE)

Proposed reforms at the National Autonomous University of Mexico include raising admission standards, reducing the number of equivalency exams taken in lieu of coursework or to compensate for failing a course, enforced compliance with contractual obligations for academic staff, and increased graduate tuition. (MSE)