Much of the responsibility for measuring teacher competency rests with teacher educators. Instead of developing new observation inventories, educators should use available ones. This article describes instruments used at the University of Toledo's competency-based teacher education program since 1979 and suggests they are broad enough to be used…

This article explains the research phase of the Adult Performance Level (APL) project, providing a brief history of how the APL life coping skills curriculum and Competency-Based High School Diploma Program evolved from the project's research and national survey of adult functional competency. Focuses on APL programs implemented within a…

Provides an overview of trends and issues related to the content of associate degree programs, patterns in course requirements, competency expectations, enrollments, the development of standards, and credit for remedial education. (DMM)

Given a loss function, an asymptotic method for optimal test design for a specified target population of examinees is presented. Also, of more practical use, given an existing unidimensional test and target population, a way is presented to find the loss function for which the test is optimal. (NSF)

The College Board has issued standards for academic preparation in high schools for college-bound students. The standards identify skills areas that apply in all subject areas and desirable outcomes in six major discipline areas, including social studies. The significance and impact of the standards for social studies are discussed. (RM)

The Florida Court decision reaffirms a state's right to impose a diploma sanction when competency tests are valid. Testing specialists now have a precedent for demonstrating curricular and instructional validity. Competency testing programs are a useful method for implementing instructional improvements. (DWH)

Examines state high school graduation requirements from the perspectives of academic effectiveness and educational equity. Predicts that minimum competency testing, which is now widespread, will gradually be replaced by further increases in academic credit requirements. (KH)

Reports the results of a national survey that assessed the extent of minimum competency testing in reading in 1984 and the nature and extent of remedial programs based upon minimum competency testing in reading. (HOD)

Teacher education will probably continue to receive specific attention in the competency testing area. Professional educators need to apply the best knowledge and practice available if testing is to become a valuable and valid part of the teacher certification process. (CJB)

Defines oral communication competency and reports a project designed to measure "minimal competency" in cognitive and behavioral/performance dimensions of oral communication. Includes a taxonomy of sample competencies for the basic course and an approach to criterion-referenced measurement. (MH)

This lucidly written book provides a concise conceptual map to guide preservice and inservice teachers through the often-confusing terrain of reading instruction. Distinguished researcher and former classroom teacher Mark Sadoski describes the essential concepts and methods of the field and summarizes key research findings and historical…

This document includes a 3-page brochure describing the main report and the main report. The report explores competency-based models in postsecondary institutions and other learning environments. It is intended primarily as a guide for postsecondary educators who are interested in establishing such efforts at their institutions. The following…

Lakeland Senior High School (LSHS), a suburban school in Lakeland, Florida, has used PLATO (registered) courseware from 1995 to meet a variety of student needs. They use their three dedicated PLATO labs to help students prepare for college placement tests such as the Stanford Achievement Test (SAT), prepare to retake the Florida High School…

This booklet contains information and resources to plan for reading and mathematics improvement goals for elementary, middle/junior high, and high schools in the Washington public schools according to the Academic Achievement and Accountability Commission and the results of the 2001 Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL). This booklet…

This overview of the problem of linking testing and instruction describes two general policy areas which have focused attention on these links: studies of school effectiveness and minimum competency testing. Techniques used to investigate links between tests and instruction and policy issues that must be addressed are also discussed. (Author/CM)