The California legislature's conception of teacher education and its response to the state's need for improved bilingual education, for recriutment of teachers in critical subject matter areas, and for recruitment of teachers with strong academic preparation are discussed. Implications for preservice policy and research are identified. (DF)

Since universal preschool for California is still in its early planning phase, most of the details remain to be decided, including the scope and structure of the program, whether or not it will be coordinated by the public schools, where it will be housed, whether it will be full-day or part-day (with or without wrap-around care), the extent to…

California laws governing the preparation and licensing of teachers were revised in 1970. The revised bill excluded health education as a teaching specialty. Various lobbying methods were attempted and eventually a bill was passed to correct this situation by the state legislature. Unfortunately, the bill was vetoed. (JN)

Investigated the relationship between measures of mathematics teacher skill and student achievement in 795 California high schools. Results support the hypothesis that there is a shortage of qualified mathematics teachers in California, and that this shortage is associated with low student scores. (SLD)

This policy brief presents a strong case for the creation of a statewide teacher data system in California by highlighting some of the simple teacher workforce questions that cannot be answered because such a system does not currently exist. At the state level, data on teacher qualifications are needed to fulfill the new reporting requirements of…

Reliable and current data is the foundation upon which good public policymaking is built. While California collects a good deal of data on its teaching workforce, policymakers have lacked a state-level data and analysis system to provide answers to even some of the most basic questions: How many credential holders actually take jobs? In what types…

A DISCUSSION BY INDUSTRY AND BUSINESS LEADERS AND EDUCATORS ON ESTABLISHING MORE MEANINGFUL RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN BUSINESS, INDUSTRY, AND THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROMPTED A SURVEY OF NINE MAJOR EMPLOYERS IN CALIFORNIA TO GATHER DATA CONCERNING ENTRY LEVEL JOBS FOR WHICH IT WAS DIFFICULT TO FIND EMPLOYEES, THE GENERAL NATURE OF JOB INTERVIEW QUESTIONS,…

TO ASCERTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL PREPARATION AND COMPETENCE OF JUNIOR COLLEGE ENGLISH TEACHERS, ANALYZE THE NUMBER AND NATURE OF ENGLISH COURSES BEING OFFERED, AND DETERMINE WHAT CONSTITUTES A TYPICAL ASSIGNMENT FOR BEGINNING TEACHERS, A QUESTIONNAIRE WAS SENT TO THE DEANS OF INSTRUCTION AT 71 CALIFORNIA PUBLIC JUNIOR COLLEGES. THE DATA PRESENTED ARE…

This handbook is the result of research done in a workshop, the purposes of which included: (1) to improve vocational guidance in secondary schools, (2) to develop better liaison between businesses, industry and education, (3) to provide practical knowledge of employment conditions and personnel practices through observations in the business and…

In this survey-based study, an attempt was made to trace changes in the characteristics of newly-employed, full-time faculty in public California community colleges over a seven-year period. Demographic data, including age, sex, residence, highest degree held, and most recent professional experience of new faculty were collected from all public…

The history of requirements for teacher certification in California from 1860 is examined. Specific issues which have arisen in connection with the 1961 Fisher Bill and the 1970 Ryan Act are analyzed.

This study examines how standardized testing for teacher certification affects teacher supply and demand in inner-city schools. Results indicate that most of the teachers who fail the California Basic Educational Skills Test are minority teachers. Minimum cutoff scores must be set within the framework of balancing teacher quality with teacher…

Identifies how personnel officers in an elementary school district discriminate among applicants for teaching positions, and checks if the selection policies of the officers are likely to result in the hiring of teachers who perform well in the classroom. (DM)

Examines two studies on alternative certification programs and the findings from a survey of emergency-certified teachers that reveals vast differences in emergency teacher preparation. It shows that emergency certification programs provide substandard training and experience to teachers that can diminish student academic achievement. (GLR)

This paper presents a profile of Los Angeles County's Steps to Excellence Project prepared as part of the Child Care Quality Rating System (QRS) Assessment Study. The profile consists of several sections and their corresponding descriptions including: (1) Program Information; (2) Rating Details; (3) Quality Indicators for Center-Based Programs;…