This paper presents a review of theory and research dealing with alternative teacher certification policy. It begins by examining the context for alternative teacher certification through the lens of Human Capital Theory. It defines alternative certification and describes the history and present status of alternative certification policies. The…

To help states learn from each other's experiences, this report focuses on what three states--Arizona, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania--are doing to improve and expand family literacy services. It also includes background information on family literacy, resources, and names and addresses of state directors of family literacy. The case studies show…

The thesis of this paper is that achievement tests have changed their primary function from serving as indicators of educational accomplishments to becoming instruments of educational policy, and have thus come to be regarded as effective means of altering educational achievement and productivity. This assertion is explored by using examples of…

This paper examines the possibility that children eligible for services as infants and toddlers under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are not eligible at age 3 under Part B (preschool special education). The analysis compared Part H and Part B eligibility policies as well as the eligibility policies of the 50…

This paper discusses how states and jurisdictions define "developmental delay" and "at risk" in their definition of eligibility for services to infants and toddlers under Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It reviews the procedures and criteria used to determine developmental delay and outlines the…

Vermont experienced a rapid expansion of federal childhood funding and programs (accompanied by their voluminous and sometimes contradictory regulations), and identified the need to unify the system after recognizing that the complexity of the early childhood education service delivery system was bewildering for parent-consumers. This report…

Despite an act of Congress encouraging state and local governments and local educational agencies to provide high quality daily physical education programs for all K-12 students, there is no federal law mandating physical education. Each state decides if physical education should be offered and how much time should be devoted to it. This booklet…

This issue paper focuses on the first of six national education goals described by President George Bush on January 31, 1990. The intent of this goal is that by the year 2000 all children in the United States will start school ready to learn and that appropriate federal and state policies will be in place. The paper is organized as follows: (1) a…

By embracing education as an economic development tool, policy makers adopt a new economic metaphor--a new way of understanding how the economy works and identifying determinants of development. Development policy has shifted focus, from providing incentives for the accumulation of physical capital to emphasizing investments in human capital. Most…

This document presents the findings of the Governor of Nebraska's task force on excellence in education. Initially, a transmittal letter states the charges, findings, and recommendations of the task force. Section 1 of the report presents a preamble and 12 findings and premises. Section 2 contains recommendations in four categories: (1) curriculum…

Alternative early childhood education policies that states might consider are discussed in this five-part report. Likely consequences, and pros and cons of each alternative are outlined. Section I presents various funding options, including the funding of existing programs, voucher mechanisms, project grants, and formula funding. Section II…

Recent efforts by the Ministry of Education in the state of Victoria, Australia, to combine decentralization of educational policy decision making with guidance for local schools in the development of appropriate curricula were the focus of this symposium. The six presentations made on that occasion are collected in this document. Robin Matthews's…

This paper presents guidelines for maintaining and extending educational opportunities in a society which is changing rapidly from one based on industry to one based on information and discusses the problems involved. Education, it is argued, must be restructured, the role of state policy and decision makers must be reconsidered, and a new set of…

A qualitative analysis of information pertinent to alternative teacher certification in Texas is presented. Texas reform legislation passed in 1984 included a requirement for the State Board of Education to provide a route to teacher certification for those who were not graduates of teacher education programs. Those persons would be required to…

Placement testing programs are generally designed to place students into courses for which they are best prepared, to reduce administrative costs due to students dropping and adding courses because of poor placement decisions, and to provide faculty with information concerning students' levels of preparation well in advance of the first day of…