This article questions whether the requirement of a 2.5 grade point average for admission to teacher education programs or for certification will improve teaching. Data from the Emporia (Kansas) Master Teacher Awards program show that of teachers receiving the award, 36 percent had lower than a 2.5 average in college. (PP)

This discussion of the education received by professionals in the fields of libraries and information services highlights education versus training, educator and practitioner values, complaints about library education, improvement of library schools, alternatives to the problems, and identification of basic competencies. Ten sources are noted.…

One of the major concerns of the California school district represented in this case study centered on the possible legal problems associated with minimum competency testing (MCT). The responses of the district to the California law regarding MCT, and to six potential problem areas, are documented. (LC)

A structured Delphi procedure was used to secure the informed judgments of three types of adult participants (n=170) on appropriate standards for the North Carolina High School Competency Tests in Reading and Mathematics. The feasibility of the method and the amount of agreement between groups are discussed. (Author/PN)

Oklahoma teachers, asked their opinions about aspects of a new state law to upgrade teacher preparation, supported raising college admission requirements, requiring an entry-year internship for beginning teachers, and participation in staff development activities. The teachers questioned the value of minimum competency testing. (PP)

If teachers of elementary physical education are to operate within the child-orientation of the elementary school, they must have a sound understanding of the development of elementary school-age children. A description is given of a teacher education program that prepares students to teach physical education and elementary education. (JN)

Florida legislation has mandated an upgrading in student academic proficiency through functional literacy testing as a prerequisite to the high school diploma and through testing of other minimum competencies. Emphasis on educational assessment has resulted in a recent focus on teacher competence and more vigorous entrance requirements for…

Citing William Spady's distinction between capacity and competence, the author asserts that current competency tests mainly measure academic (capacity) not life (competency) skills. He then considers problems inherent in delineating, teaching, and testing essential practical living competencies and presents some alternatives. Part of a theme issue…

This review of the background and current status of state level activities in testing documents the shift in locus of educational control from local school districts to state agencies, the key dimensions characterizing such programs, factors influencing their implementation and their possible impact. (Author/AEF)

A study of the 1980 graduating class of teachers at North Texas State University revealed that academic criteria played no significant role in the job-hunting experiences of those students. The author urges school districts to rely on academic competence rather than standardized tests in hiring new teachers. (Author/WD)

The National Catholic Educational Association (NCEA) polled all state and diocese-level Catholic school officials in the nation on their knowledge of and attitudes toward the competency-based education movement and its application to Catholic schools. Results, plus specific comments from Spokane, Charleston, Cleveland, and Baltimore…

Competency-based education programs could raise three kinds of legal issues: claims under the due process clause, claims of discrimination under the equal protection clause, and claims of negligence. (Author/JM)

Leaders of the American Federation of Teachers, the National Education Association, and the American School Boards Association predict problems and possible solutions that teachers will face in the future. Subjects include collective bargaining, strikes, relevant inservice and preservice teacher training, teacher competency tests, and cooperation.…

The author proposes that the academic/vocational dichotomy in American schools be replaced with the concept of "functional education," in which business, secondary schools, and colleges cooperate to provide more flexible and realistic training that will benefit young people and will provide business with the educated workers it needs. (SJL)

Stating that national educational policy increasingly involves the minimum competencies mentality, the author discusses his proposal to investigate the outer limits of human educability, addressing five steps toward creating educational programs to maximize human educability: master patterns, personal patterns, stages of development, educational…