Students from 26 colleges nationwide shared their perceptions of how well their professional preparation programs had covered the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing competencies for entry-level health education. Results found no significant differences by gender or educational level, but responses according to geographical…

Describes the System for Teaching and Learning Assessment and Review (STAR), a comprehensive, classroom-based observation system for assessing teaching and learning, as well as interactive, psychosocial, and physical elements of the learning environment. The paper presents results of initial validity and reliability studies supporting the system.…

This article provides an overview of issues that states must address in developing their early intervention personnel systems to best meet the demands of Public Law 99-457. Personnel issues include credentialling current staff, developing effective preservice systems and ongoing professional development systems, and determining personnel needs.…

Includes "Community Education" (Bennett); "Community Struggle for Education" (Shaif); "Role of Women in Literacy Campaign" (Moqbil); "Access with a Difference" (Steyne); "Bringing English as Second Language into the Mainstream" (Ahmed); "Accreditation for a Change" (Kerton); "Working…

Four national educational reform initiatives (national goals for schools, core curriculum, national student examination system, and teacher certification processes) are examined and policy implications discussed. It is argued that, although these initiatives are progressing, they will not succeed without sustained commitment on the parts of the…

Describes the impact of the introduction of National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) in the United Kingdom on the field of child care and education. Explains the structure of NVQs; how to get an NVQ accreditation; Child Care and Education NVQs; the NVQ assessment process; the roles of assessors and verifiers; how the NVQ system works; and the…

The paper discusses the role of schools in Great Britain's preservice teacher education, noting the political history of the country's teacher education. Research shows that the result of partnerships between schools and institutions of higher education has been teachers who enter the field with satisfactory qualifications. (SM)

Teacher licensing is a state responsibility. In most states, educators must complete professional development courses to renew their credentials. Teacher educators and state licensing officials must work together to help educators become effective lifelong learners, collaborating on the design of a strategic plan for career-long teacher education.…

Study examined national certification practices in health and physical education (HE/PE), how often states permitted certified PE teachers to teach HE and vise versa, and trends in statewide testing in HE/PE. Questionnaires completed by department of public instruction administrators highlighted many trends in certification, teaching, and testing…

Discusses the negative impact of teacher certification testing on African-American teacher candidates, noting the Supreme Court's Wards Cove versus Antonio decision which may foreclose previously successful court settlements regarding the impact of teacher testing on minorities. The article reviews procedures for establishing test validity and…

Describes the development of an alternative preservice teacher education program that helped students realize that children learn through constructing ideas about the world and themselves and demonstrated the belief that learning to teach is a process of constructing meaning. The program encouraged student teachers to explore their potential for…

Reports on characteristics significantly related to teacher retention in a large urban school district using a Cox regression model to model teacher turnover for a sample of 2,327 white, black, and Hispanic-American first-year teachers. Sex, ethnicity, education, and certification route are significantly related to teacher retention. (SLD)

Discusses current educational trends and relates them to preservice art education. Reviews research in art education and dance education and makes suggestions on qualifications and certification for dance educators. Provides 10 recommendations for dance education and the preparation of dance education teachers. (CFR)

Surveys how states are investing new federal money in child care quality and supply. Examines several key areas: child care licensing and monitoring; resource and referral services; child care for infants, school-agers, and children with special needs; child care for low-income families; comprehensive and enriched services; provider training;…

Presents a discussion by a panel of University of Utah faculty on recommendations made in the 1996 report, What Matters Most: Teaching for America's Future, produced by the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. The paper focuses on the realities of education, standards and standardization, teacher professional development, National…