Finds that text material in final (end-of-school) French oral examinations in Germany do not correspond with the accomplishment to be expected of the students, in both appropriateness and degree of difficulty. Offers criteria, sample texts, and suggestions regarding reasonable requirements. (IFS/WGA)

The items of the Florida minimal competency test have never been validated as measures of "survival skills," and the pass/fail standards were set mindlessly and capriciously. (Author/IRT)

Explores such myths as competency-based graduation requirements are a repudiation of humanistic concerns, the public won't accept subjective measures of competence, and requiring students to pass proficiency tests before graduation will increase public support for education. Offers suggestions for developing new kinds of graduation requirements.…

State standards for minimum competencies deal mainly with reading, writing, and mathematics. Testing is primarily a state function. Many programs include identification of students who need remedial assistance. (Author/AV)

A high school district employed multiple matrix sampling to establish cutting scores on reading and mathematics competency tests. Entry-level job holders in the working community were tested with subtests of the intact test. Generalizations were made from the results; performances of the high school and the community groups were compared.…

Hitherto, the People's University Certificate examinations were largely vocabulary and structure lists; the skills were weighted very differently. The new examinations define "behavioral objectives" much more exactly. Content guidelines are given, as well as text types, topics and "situations." A later article will discuss…

Presents the transcripts and summaries of presentations given by four secondary school physics educators. Staffing problems, the implications of junior high school science on senior high school physics, and expectations of secondary school physics courses and their instructors are among topics discussed. (CP)

The important thing is that the student early and continuously recognizes school as an institution ready to help, one that will help him, frequently, assess his own progress and deficiencies, indicate what these mean in terms of the future, and provide instruction for getting on. (Author)

A survey of teachers, students, administrators, and parents in Georgia shows a wide diversity of opinion regarding the levels of reading, writing, listening, speaking, and arithmetic skills that should be required for high school graduation. (Author/IRT)

A third-grade teacher looks at criticism of the elementary curriculum and teacher education from the perspective of an educator working to motivate and inspire individual children in the classroom. (MSE)

Describes the University of Arizona's plan of action for defining and testing second language proficiency at the fourth semester level (a college requirement). Tasks include (1) reviewing proficiency literature; (2) redefining the second language requirement by using the ACTFL proficiency guidelines; (3) developing testing techniques; and (4)…

Discusses data collected from state supervisors of technology education and trade and industrial education on the status of teachers, certification, starting salaries, vacancies, graduation requirements, student enrollment, and funding. (JOW)

Provides an overview of legal issues concerning the testing of handicapped students and employees in elementary and secondary schools and in institutions of higher education. The first part of the paper summarizes the major specialized sources of applicable statutory and administrative law. The second part synthesizes the relevant case law.…

A study of the Israeli "bagrut" (maturity examination) correlated number of absences from class with class grades ("magen") and with examination grades for 300 students. Although negative relationships were found in both cases, the subjectivity of internally based, subject-teacher assessment makes it a questionable part of the…

The findings from part 3 of the seventh annual American School Board Journal survey of school board members are reported. Board members were asked about policy changes made in the areas of graduation requirements, financial incentives for teachers, and instructional time. (TE)