The competency testing of teacher candidates has become almost universal in the United States. This paper explores some of the issues associated with competency testing, especially as they relate to teacher testing in California. The practice has its origin in concern that some of those who choose to pursue teaching careers in the elementary and…

One dimension of the current educational reform movement made testing teacher candidates a fixture in nearly every state. The companion problem is that standardized test scores often correlate with the test-takers ethnicity and gender. Such an outcome appears to place teacher competency interests in competition with egalitarian interests. Is…

Examines whether teaching candidates who passed a basic competency screening test also possessed a level of general academic aptitude significantly higher than those who did not pass. Findings from 293 teachers who took the California Basic Educational Skills Test and had Scholastic Aptitude Test scores available show that requiring minimum…