Two decades of research have documented what now is common knowledge: no in-school factor matters more to students' educational experiences and outcomes than the effectiveness of their teacher. As a result, the national airspace is increasingly crowded with proposed reforms and initiatives designed to boost teacher performance, including new…

Analyses of state policy regarding the impact of age provisions of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, on eligibility at preschool and postschool levels were conducted. Changes were found (compared to a 1973 survey) in 28 states, including 10 states with expanded eligibility and 18 with narrowed eligibility statutes. The…

The article provides a review of state services for young handicapped children. Section one contains a description of legislation for preschool handicapped education. Part two describes federal programs that relate to special children from birth to mandatory school age. Teacher certification requirements are reviewed in the third section. The…

The report considers state and federal policy issues regarding parent surrogates for handicapped children as mandated by P. L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Clarification about the limited advocacy role of the parent surrogate is given. The first chapter looks at identification of students who need surrogate parents:…

An analysis of the relationship between federal, state, and local policies, procedures, and documents governing the implementation of special programs for the handicapped was commissioned by the Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Department of Educational Accountability in the summer of 1979. The purpose of this analysis was to determine…

The report on the relationship between gifted education and special education across the 50 states looks at federal law for the handicapped, especially P.L. 94-142; the education of the classroom teacher; and the certified gifted teacher. Mandated gifted education and separation from special education are recommended. (DB)

The goal of the "Closing the Achievement Gap for 21st Century Learners in West Virginia (CAG)" report, 3rd edition, is to update West Virginia educators to the status and improvement of student achievement in West Virginia which may then be utilized as a basis for determining future educational decisions. In order to enhance the quality…

Illinois does not currently have a statewide certification program for adult educators, although the Illinois Adult and Continuing Educators Association has adopted a set of professional standards for adult educators. Some local school districts in the state do, however, require that adult educators be certified. The issue of whether to require…

A history of teacher testing in South Carolina was presented to serve as a context within which the current teacher evaluation system might be interpreted. Legislation in 1940 mandated that renewal of certificates and issuance of new certificates to teachers be predicated upon the applicant's completion of a comprehensive and objective…

In this report, the first of a series, literature on the changing role of the principal is reviewed in an attempt to define the contemporary principalship. Areas discussed are (1) the legal designation of the principal according to California law, (2) the evolution of the position, (3) such external pressures as urbanization and the scientific…

State and federal policy issues regarding graduation requirements for handicapped students are explored. After a historical review of such issues as school attendance laws and the competency based testing movement, the effect of state and federal legislation is discussed. State action regarding minimum competency testing is charted and four policy…

Policy issues related to the concept of least restrictive environment (LRE) as required in P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act are reviewed and alternatives considered. Relevant legislation and litigation are reviewed in Chapter I, while the evolution of educational practice is illuminated in Chapter II in such special…

Recent court involvement in cases dealing with state regulation of private schools is discussed. Results of court litigation of these cases will have some effect on the future status and role of teachers and teaching. (CJ)

Legislative and/or state department of education mandates requiring some form of competency assessment of teachers are currently in force in 38 states. An additional seven states report planning activity, and only five states report no plans to test the competency of teachers. Descriptions are given of competency assessment activities in each…

In setting performance standards for schoolchildren, the school system not only announces what students must know; it specifies what it presumes it can teach. Tests of competency should be merely a monitoring device to indicate whether the system is meeting its obligation to students. (Author)