Discusses the progress of development of a nationwide voluntary accreditation system for early childhood centers and schools, reviewing the accreditation process and providing a draft describing criteria for high quality programs. (BJD)

Pharmacy assistant training in Bulgaria involves going to a special institute for a two-year program with five components: general, biomedical, professional, practical experience, and electives. Evaluation is based on quizzes and examinations, followed by successful passing of state examination for practice. There are more assistants than…

The high school diploma is attacked as providing inadequate evidence of student development, socialization, and achievement. Discussed are major potential consequences of the movement towards "competency-based education" affecting college admissions, curricula, graduation requirements, and student learning. (AF)

Discusses the results of two questionnaires given to two groups of newly certified primary teachers in England. The cohorts answered questions concerning the training they had received and, 20 weeks into their new jobs, the nature of the demands they had experienced. Includes statistical and tabular data. (MJP)

Illinois, in partnership with the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future, is transforming its teacher preparation and training sequence into a strong teacher development system that will result in improved teacher recruitment, preparation, induction, certification, professional development, and retirement. This paper outlines the…

To meet growing health care industry manpower needs, colleges and universities are revamping their curricula, but are still turning down many students. Few black institutions offer health occupations programs, and adding new ones is financially difficult. Adjusting competency and licensing requirements to meet new needs is also difficult when…

Describes the evolution of the Vermont state-mandated system of prospective teacher evaluation by portfolio and examines the Middlebury College (Vermont) portfolio design and its effect on restructuring of teacher preparation programs, the student teacher practicum, and professional relationships with cooperating teachers. (SM)

This article describes the University of San Francisco's Mild/Moderate Education Specialist Credential Internship Program, a program designed to meet the need for more fully credentialed teachers trained specifically to work in diverse urban classrooms. Program outcomes indicate it has been enormously successful in recruiting, supporting, and…

Reviews research literature on the effectiveness of bilingual education programs. Argues that scientifically valid evaluation studies offer no consistent support for transitional bilingual education as a superior practice for improving the English-language achievement of limited English proficient (LEP) children and, in fact, suggest evidence of…

A survey of about 100 institutions representing a wide range of types sought information on the procedures and policies for certification and transcript transactions, including financial support, fees, billing and payment, unofficial copies, record storage and access, turnaround time, confidentiality, and staff assignment. Results are reported.…

Examines recent policy changes in teacher education and how they impact on the recruitment and retention of minority students. Focuses on the conflicting concerns for both accountability and equal educational opportunity. (FMW)

This article provides evidence regarding the effects of schools, teachers, and teaching processes on enhancing eighth grade mathematics achievement in Nigeria and Swaziland. Findings suggest that teaching quality (teaching practices) is more important than teacher quality (education, experience, certification) in determining student outcomes. (IAH)

Maintains that the National Geography Standards provide an opportunity to forge close relationships with teacher preparation programs. Reports on strategies used by the Virginia Geographic Alliance to produce regional, cross-disciplinary teams. Includes a table outlining the goals of Virginia's "Geographic for Life" Institutes. (CFR)

Discusses barriers to preparing bilingual para-educators to assist in the teaching of limited English proficient students. These include financial, social, and academic obstacles. Effective recruitment of para-educators requires critical factors such as financial aid, social support, academic counseling, and improved working conditions. (28…

Presents issues about school networking: how network administrators differ from technology directors; what administrators, technology directors, teachers, and students need to know; whether school library media specialists should serve as network administrators; why basic networking knowledge is advantageous; causes of problems affecting networks;…