According to a recent survey, school superintendents in Illinois generally favor the kinds of educational reforms being urged by national commissions on educational excellence. Over 100 superintendents from randomly selected elementary, secondary, and combined school districts in Illinois responded to the 104-item questionnaire. The survey sought…

The image and reputation of General College (GC) of the University of Minnesota was studied in 1981 through telephone interviews of 619 students, faculty, and counselors. Eighty-six percent of GC students, 87 percent of the university counselors, and 63 percent of high school counselors rated GC as very important. Seventy-seven percent of GC…

Survey results have suggested that, while teachers like to have test information available, most do not have great skill or consistency in interpreting test score data. Teachers who consider a certain type of test very valuable or useful are less likely to question the accuracy of the scores than are teachers who consider a test to be of little…

The high degree of autonomy college faculty members exercise in organizing and teaching courses suggests that faculty perceptions of educational purposes, subject matter structure and importance, and expectations for student learning are major determinants of educational success. Despite diversity and local autonomy present in its system, American…

Summary tables compare, item by item, the recommendations of the National Commission on Excellence in Education, the Twentieth Century Fund Task Force, and the Task Force on Education for Economic Growth. These recommendations propose reforms in most or all aspects of formal education, including curriculum, academic standards, instructional…

The purpose of this presentation is to investigate both the liberal arts tradition and the preparation of teachers in colleges and universities committed to following that tradition. Historically, liberal education has addressed itself to the task of determining and clarifying human needs and values. The major goal of education, as defined in this…

A research-oriented project to improve the effectiveness of undergraduate education at the state University of Antwerp, Belgium, is described, and the higher education system and conditions in Belgium are noted. Attention was focused on the outcome-based paradigm, according to which the primary goal of instruction is to ensure that all students…

This paper outlines Florida's efforts toward improving its present educational system through increased emphasis on essential learning outcomes. After an introductory section, which notes some of the legislative steps and planning activities undertaken in support of this goal, the paper outlines six conditions that Florida's postsecondary…

This paper discusses ways to ensure sex equity in teacher education. Teachers, teacher education, textbooks, and the materials teachers choose to use in the classroom tend to stereotype and discriminate on the basis of sex. Teacher educators have a responsibility to try to intervene. Such intervention is especially appropriate since research has…

The proceedings of the twelfth Congress of the Universities of the Commonwealth (Canada) are reported. Two papers were presented at the first plenary session: "Reconciling National, International and Local Roles of Universities with the Essential Character of a University," by Charles Wilson and "The World Food Problem and the…

The legal question of the scope of administrative authority Congress has actually conferred upon the Commissioner of Education in the listing of accrediting agencies of institutions of higher education is addressed. To ensure that its tax monies would not be paying for substandard education, but to avoid controlling education, the government,…

The merits and hazards of minimum competency testing for the individual student or for student groups are discussed. Types of groups which lend themselves to group application and some important factors in determining the parameters of a group are discussed. Ten critical issues related to minimum competency testing are identified: (1) scope of…

Interest in applied performance testing and concern about the quality of the high school diploma are finding a common ground: graduation requirements. A competency is a complex capability applicable in real life situations, and can be used as program objectives in a competency-based, criterion-referenced program. In such a program, applied…

The most important provisions of new student financial aid regulations in New York State are described. Revisions to Part 145 of the Regulations of the Commissioner of Education concern program pursuit and academic progress, definition of full-time study, duplicative awards, theological study, and five-year programs. The change with the broadest…

Schools of education are failing to meet the responsibility to produce teachers equipped to cope effectively with the increasingly complex world of cultural pluralism and rapidly developing technological advances. Challenges are present in the current demand for special education experts, adult education teachers, physical education and health…