The 40 references in this annotated bibliography are intended for educators concerned with assessment of basic speaking and listening skills, especially in the context of minimal competency testing and basic skill improvement programs. The materials cited do the following: (1) address broad assessment issues; (2) review a variety of test…

This annotated bibliography of 66 resources was developed as part of a federally funded project in Minnesota to promote the participation of students with limited English proficiency (LEP) and students with disabilities in the Minnesota Graduation Standards. Specifically, the project is encouraging participation in the Basic Standards Exams of…

Included in this review of the literature on grade retention are annotations for 13 articles supporting nonpromotion policies, 13 articles refuting nonpromotion policies, and 5 articles arguing that both policies result in undesirable consequences. Articles are identified as being: (1) original research comparing students retained with students…

Focusing on state-mandated minimum competency testing programs, this annotated bibliography cites 200 items selected from more than 700. The Resource Catalog is intended for state education policy makers and therefore includes resource and study guides; legislative and board action; conference speeches, reports and proceedings; curriculum guides,…

This annotated bibliography contains 44 references, dated from 1976 to 1989, intended for educators concerned with assessment of basic speaking and listening skills, with particular emphasis on minimal competency testing and basic skills improvement programs. The materials cited do the following: (1) assess broad assessment issues; (2) review a…

Increased public concern about students' basic skill levels and about the need for minimum-competency tests has placed part of the responsibility for reading-skills development on content-area teachers. This annotated bibliography is a resource guide for content-area teachers who want to integrate reading-skills instruction with their subject…

Approximately 100 items are included in this bibliography on competency based education and minimal competency testing. These items, which are arranged in alphabetical order, by title or author, include bibliographies, conference proceedings, monographs, position papers, journal articles, program descriptions, speeches, resource guides, and state…

This chapter of "The Best of the Best of ERIC," Volume 2, contains 18 summaries of documents and journals on competency-based education, all of which are indexed in either "Resources in Education" or "Current Index to Journals in Education." The materials included deal with various aspects of the topic, such as…

Participants in this conference of educators, convened to consider methods of evaluating teacher education students, focused upon the relationship between candidate quality and teacher effectiveness. Questions under consideration included: (1) pre-admission field experiences students should demonstrate; (2) optimum scores on aptitude and…

Minimal competency testing is the most recent evolution of the accountability movement and of the competency based education movement. It focuses on the basic academic skills of reading, writing, and arithemtic. It presumes the state will set educational objectives, and that the local school district will conduct its program so that the objectives…

The second of two related documents, this volume consists of four appendixes of data referred to in the first volume. Appendix A makes up the major portion of the report and contains abstracts and ratings of 71 test instruments categorized by skill area and educational level. Appendix B contains the results of the 1978-79 survey of the status of…

A one-page introduction is followed by summaries of articles and documents on teacher competency testing. George F. Madaus argues that, although tests serve some useful functions, treating them as a major mechanism for reforming education is questionable. Peter A. Garcia examines the negative impact of testing on minority teachers and minorities…

This review of literature from the Educational Resources Information Center (ERIC) database is the second volume on the topic of testing and assessment for the counseling professional; the first volume was published in 1979. The sections on minimum competency tests identify issues of current interest, e.g., the basic issue of definition; the…

The origins, accomplishments, problems, and implications of competence-based reforms in higher education are examined. Competence-based education is defined as that form of education that derives a curriculum from an analysis of a prospective or actual role in modern society and that attempts to certify student progress on the bases of…

Summaries are presented of the problems and issues of minimum competency testing which were discussed at four regional conferences for political and educational practitioners. The Education Commission of the States sponsored the conferences, but took no official position of support or opposition. Section 1 compares the legislative, practitioner,…