The competency-based teacher education movement introduced evaluation of individual and institutional effectiveness at every level of teacher training. Though it has not accomplished its promised reform of teacher education, CBTE has stimulated research, it has triggered changes in teacher certification requirements, and its influence is found…

The utility of general or select response formats for evaluating certain types of clinical competence is studied. Consideration of the suitability of an examination format to fulfill its intended purpose and the appropriateness of the questions included is recommended when designing an examination. (Author/AL)

Granting of licenses to practice has long been linked to academic credentials, but this system offers more protection to the professions than to the public. There is an immediate need to break the credentials monopoly by opening up alternative routes to obtaining credentials. (Author/MLW)

This study was concerned with the measurement of a set of indicators of teacher competence, defined by the teachers themselves as observable in their classroom behavior. It was concluded that keys could be constructed to yield stable and consistent measures of most indicators of competency. (Authors/JN)

Teachers, and their organizations are promoting a professional structure modeled after the legal and medical professions. Such a model excludes the community from providing input into policy decisions. An alternative is to divide issues into those which are clearly competitive versus those which should be cooperative. (Author)

Because of complex legal arrangements in its development and governance, Union County Technical Institute is in controversy over its recognition as a "college." This has led to difficulties in accreditation, student transfer, and faculty status. (SJL)

The Ad Hoc Committee on Continuing Medical Education of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) identifies accepted assumptions regarding continuing education, examines recent trends and issues, and offers conclusions and recommendations for the AAMC and for the medical schools, teaching hospitals, and specialty societies that provide…

Some broad problems involved in the assessment of competence in the health professions are defined. They include defining competence, the continuum of health professions education, the process of credentialing, internal/external evaluations, elements of controls on physicians' performance, monitoring process, and maintenance of competence. (MLW)

Results of the investigation described in this paper support the hypothesis that there is no significant difference in the occupational competence of trade and industrial teacher education students using three different work experience combinations to meet South Dakota's certification standards for vocational teacher certification in trade and…

A survey of state certification requirements for vocational education teachers and administrators shows significant differences in education and performance requirements among different vocational areas: (1) trade and industrial, technical, and health; and (2) distributive, home economics, and agriculture. (MF)

The author examines teaching in Canada as a self-regulating profession, in comparison to other professions in Ontario and to teaching in Scotland. Trends are noted toward inclusion of lay members and government representatives on governing bodies and toward greater control over professional education and certification. (SJL)

Widespread support for the National Forum on Assessment's 1995 "Principles and Indicators" shows deep desire for a radical reconstruction of student assessment practices. Assessment to enhance student learning should rest on certain foundations: an understanding of how student learning occurs; clear statements of desired, universal…

A three-year study at Ohio University-Newark of a new fifth-year master of education (M.Ed.) program and a traditional bachelor's program showed a placement rate twice as high for M.Ed. graduates. Also analyzes enrollment patterns, student profiles, staffing and cost implications, and relationships with school personnel in the area served by the…

The latest educational reform is that of charter schools. This article surveys the perceived benefits of charter schools and their organizational characteristics. Describes fiscal and policy issues and outlines seven critical components necessary for passing successful charter legislation. One figure is included. (Five references) (LMI)

A brief history of developments in the assessment of the reliability of credentialing examinations is presented, and some new results are outlined that highlight the interactions among scoring, standard setting, and the reliability and validity of pass-fail decisions. Decision consistency is an important concept in evaluating credentialing…