This is a preliminary report on a longitudinal study of upgrading of Basic-level students to General-level programs. Toronto, Ontario, secondary school courses are offered at six levels of difficulty. The issue of upgrading is significant in the job market as those with General-level diplomas have advantages over those with Basic-level diplomas.…

The 1983 6-week summer school program of the District of Columbia Schools provided remedial courses to elementary and secondary students in reading and mathematics, in courses needed for promotion and graduation, and in developing career and entry level skills for student interns. In evaluating the program, this report found that the average…

This study was designed to provide insight regarding the psychological repercussions for students who repeatedly fail the Georgia Basic Skills Test (GBST), but are not identified as educationally handicapped. This criterion referenced test is designed to assess competency on designated minimum skills. A random sample of tenth graders were…

This bulletin highlights state initiatives addressing education problems, examines new laws, updates the state of Wisconsin's activities to improve the quality of its education, and concludes with an annotated list of nine publications on educational reform that are available from the Wisconsin Legislative Reference Bureau. Information is included…

Assembly Concurrent Resolution 71 (ACR 71) requests California's three public segments of higher education to review those policies and programs that are aimed at ensuring that all graduates "possess an understanding and awareness of non-white ethnic groups" and to consider adopting necessary policies to ensure that goal. This report…

This handbook provides information about the characteristics of students who are enrolled in senior high schools in Alberta and offers information useful in organizing and operating secondary schools to meet the needs of students. The first section of the handbook addresses the diverse characteristics and needs of senior high students, and…

The focus of this study is the implementation and effects of high school graduation requirements enacted as a result of the recent wave of state reforms of education. The study concentrates on high school graduation course requirements. Interview data on the intent and effects of the requirements were gathered in six states, 24 districts, 32 high…

General guidelines for administering the Grade 12 Diploma Examinations for June 1987 in Alberta, Canada, include shipping dates of the tests, a schedule for returning examinations, securing test materials, and handling walk-in candidates. Additional information includes what to do about students who arrive late, violation of examination rules,…

This bulletin contains general guidelines on the Diploma Examinations Program required for all grade 12 students for the 1987-88 school year in Alberta, Canada. The grade 12 Diploma Examinations Program is an integral part of the high school diploma requirements and is intended to develop and maintain excellence in educational standards through…

Student mobility is a phenomena that negatively affects performance on tests. In New Jersey this is a problem because test scores on statewide proficiency tests are used as criteria for graduation and as one of the criteria for state certification of the school district. A study done in Perth Amboy was designed to collect data on student mobility…

Minimum competency testing (MCT) programs for students are growing in popularity and being adopted by many states. In order to determine the extent of the MCT movement, researchers at North Carolina State University surveyed state departments of education in all 50 states. In updating these data for 1986-1987, it was found that 64 percent of the…

The paper traces the establishment and outcomes of a special education program development unit as part of the West Virginia Department of Education. It is explained that the office used a process/product planning approach with information on mission, role/function, allocation of function and resources, and multiple matrix analysis planning. Based…

This Policy and Procedures Manual is the complete resource for information concerning the Austin Independent School District's (AISD) minimum competency requirements program for high school graduation. All students are required to exhibit a 9.0 grade level competence in reading and mathematics. Special education students are exempt from this…

Six measurement-related problems which face educators attempting to implement minimum competency-oriented instruction (MC-OI) are isolated. They are: (1) choosing appropriate competencies to measure; (2) acquiring appropriate tests; (3) setting standards for MC-OI; (4) selecting suitable sanctions; (5) providing equidifficult examination…

During the spring of 1980, Texas tested all of its ninth graders for the first time as part of a legislatively-mandated competency program. This forced all Texas districts which already had established programs to decide whether to drop, modify, or retain them. The political, economic, and practical information which was important within the…