This newsletter includes six articles related to the Regional Resource and Federal Centers for Special Education Network and its efforts in the area of standards and accountability. In "Teacher Training and Skills: Necessary Ingredients for Standards and Accountability," John Copenhaver discusses ways in which the Regional Resource and…

This study attempted to determine the personal and workplace variables which predict a special educator's decision to stay, transfer, or leave the classroom. A stratified random sample of 1,576 special education teachers in Florida was surveyed, resulting in 1,152 usable responses. Two models were estimated with forward stepwise logistic…

Britain's National Vocational Qualifications (NVQs) are work qualifications that measure what an employee or potential employee can do as well as how much he or she knows and understands about a particular job. Used as written proof of usable workplace skills that can be put to profitable use by an employer, NVQs range from basic Level 1, for…

Reports on the development and recognition of environmental protection qualifications in the chemical and metal industries in Germany, France, Italy, Spain, and the United Kingdom were synthesized. The synthesis focused on companies' and social partners' current and planned strategies and obligations of companies regarding recognizing…

There is at present an unusually high degree of interest among educators and educational policy makers in the possibilities of improving and expanding elementary and secondary education by incorporating some forms of distance education into traditional schooling. However, no procedures and little funding have been provided for research to find out…

This monograph describes the various approaches to vocational training in Ireland. The report was compiled from existing statistics, various studies, and interviews with representatives of all the organizations, colleges, companies, and institutes involved in vocational training. Section 1 provides background information on political structures,…

This report, prepared for the Pennsylvania Professional Standards and Practices Commission, summarizes the major recommendations for reforming the field of teaching as proposed by the Holmes Group and the Carnegie Commission. The paper compares the recommendations with current practice in the areas of career development and governance. Stages of…

This study was conducted to examine the relationship between state agencies and higher education in planning for the personnel components of Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The study used a qualitative research design, involving five states, to examine the process of developing and maintaining working relationships…

A 1993 study compared trends in the structure of qualifications for occupations related to the installation, management, and maintenance of computer networks in Germany, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Portugal, and the United Kingdom. Staff involved in networks required specialized new skills related to feasibility and design, installation,…

A study evaluated the labor market outcomes of individuals with various types of postsecondary educational experiences. In particular, it examined differences among three groups: students who pursued technical education programs; those who pursued academic programs; and those individuals who did not pursue any type of postsecondary education. The…

A "moderation system" is a system intended to help ensure uniform interpretation and application of standards within New Zealand's National Qualifications Framework, which consists of all nationally registered academic and vocational qualifications and the nationally registered unit standards from which they are derived. The process of…

This digest contains summaries of accreditation standards relating to the personnel preparation programs in special education and related services in 29 states and the District of Columbia that responded to a request for materials. Each state's information is presented within seven categories: (1) eligibility of programs for accreditation; (2)…

Training and education in the construction craft industry for the 1990s and beyond will be affected by changes in industry, qualifications, and education and training provision. A shift away from apprenticeship programs toward shorter periods of training and further education has been accompanied by an increasing emphasis on the demonstration of…

The purpose of this publication is to examine five standards of excellence for judging teacher education programs. The paper is organized into five sections with the standards stated as questions and summarized as guidelines. The five questions discussed are: (1) What are the attributes sought in those selected to become teachers? (2) What is the…

These training standards for building maintenance mechanics are intended to be used by apprentice/trainees, instructors, and companies in Ontario, Canada, as a blueprint for training or as a prerequisite for accreditation/certification. The training standards identify skills required for this occupation and its related training program. They are…