This newsletter issue focuses on the subject of mandatory testing of prospective teachers prior to certification. The following questions are discussed: (1) What are the major types of teacher tests? (2) How prevalent are teacher tests? (3) What are the major teacher tests? (4) What problems do teacher testing programs address? (5) What are the…

Describes the efforts some states are making to regulate online colleges that lack accreditation. The problem is complicated by the fact that if a state takes a tough approach, the institutions can easily change mailing addresses to obtain degree-granting licenses in other states. Describes some of these colleges and some of the accrediting…

A three-year Florida project to develop subject area certification examinations in foreign languages is reported. The project was carried out by teachers at each stage: research, writing, validation, pilot-testing, editing, and scoring. The teacher-developed certification test development project is seen as a model for other states. (four…

Three projects have been undertaken in Minnesota to define standards for student outcomes in postsecondary institutions. The Minnesota Higher Education Coordinating Board has focused on outcomes, standards, and criteria which may be used as templates for student assessment. The first project followed the publication of the State Department of…

This report, ninth in a series, is designed to indicate progress made by the United States toward the eight National Education Goals. Following a statement of the eight Goals, part 1 explains the nature and purposes of the Goals. Part 2, "Summary of Progress to Date," evaluates national and state progress made toward these goals since…

Traces the evolution of the state geography standards in Rhode Island and gives a summary of the work accomplished thus far toward implementing the National Geography Standards. Profiles several state and local initiatives and discusses the Standards that they represent. (MJP)

The merits of a state testing program that would measure the basic skills of college students and provide a basis for improvement was studied in Texas in 1985 by the Committee on Testing. Basic skills among colleges students and the use of postsecondary testing and remediation programs were studied in several states. The review included various…

The Colorado Education Goals Panel, appointed by Governor Roy Romer in 1995 to meet the challenge of raising student achievement levels, is a 40-member planning group co-chaired by the Governor and Commissioner Bill Randall. The group includes parents, educators, business and civic leaders, policymakers, and administrators from higher education.…

Many southern states have taken action to improve the effectiveness of teaching by increasing teacher salaries, establishing career ladder and incentive programs, and ensuring teachers' knowledge of the subject area they teach. Attention is also now being directed to improvement of teacher education programs, and many of the southern states are…

This 1995 report presents information on the progress that Tennessee has made toward its 26 educational objectives for preschool through graduate education. It examines the following four areas: (1) the extent of duplication in elementary-secondary and postsecondary education; (2) the extent to which high-school graduation requirements are…

A desire to raise student achievement levels is leading many educators and parents to work for restructuring and reforming U.S. schools. One of the many areas in which this effort is proving to be complex is the question of changing college admission criteria to respond to the changes in curriculum, pedagogy, and assessment that are occurring at…

This paper describes the meeting of the Reading and Writing Advisory Committee of the New Jersey Basic Skills Council with selected high school English teachers and administrators. This panel established cut scores for statewide interpretation of the New Jersey College Basic Skills Placement Test (NJCBSPT). The NJCBSPT is administered to all…

The Dwight D. Eisenhower Program for Mathematics and Science Education of the U.S. Department of Education provided a forum in which state and federal representatives could develop strategies to support the implementation of recently developed mathematics and science education standards. This conference report describes the presentations and…

The experiences of 10 states described in this paper illustrate how higher education can be a constructive force for change in the schools, and how the changes taking place in school-based curriculum and assessment provide valuable lessons for collegiate reform. The 10 states profiled are California, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, New…

A NEW BASIC CONCEPT IN FINANCING EDUCATIONAL SERVICES IS THE CHANGE FROM VIEWING SCHOOLS AS "STANDARDIZED-OPPORTUNITY-SYSTEMS" TO SEEING THEM AS "DIFFERENTIATED-OUTPUT-ACCOUNTABILITY-SYSTEMS." THE ACCOUNTABILITY SYSTEM OF FINANCE, REQUIRING A SUPPLY OF ANALYTICAL STUDIES TO GUIDE DECISIONMAKERS, WOULD HAVE THREE MAIN…