The purpose of the present study was to determine if numeral knowledge--the ability to identify Arabic numerals and connect Arabic numerals to their respective quantities--mediates the relation between informal and formal mathematical knowledge. A total of 206 3- to 5-year-old preschool children were assessed on 6 informal mathematics tasks and 2…

Prompted by the need for leaders able to turn around chronically low-performing schools, states, universities, education groups, and school districts in the US have initiated a variety of principal development programs. Some programs focus on enhancing the skills of experienced administrators, while others target talented teachers and even…

The mathematics performance of 1,098 learning disabled (LD) Florida tenth graders on the Florida State Assessment Test-II was evaluated. LD students tended to perform better on skills requiring literal use of numbers and worse on skills requiring application of mathematical knowledge. Employers' ratings supported the importance of skills tested.…

Describes Florida's Individualized Manpower Training System (IMTS) which combines expanded curriculum (basic education, complementary skills, and work evaluation components), learning resource centers, and management procedures to assist students with basic skill deficiencies. Student motivation, open-entry open-exit study and minimum duplication…

A Pinellas County (Florida) program serves women who are single, separated, divorced, or widowed and in need of training in vocational as well as basic skills. In addition to training and financial assistance, the program offers a variety of support services such as job placement, child care funding, and transportation support. (JOW)

Examination of results of several cases in which students failed minimum competency tests evokes criticism of the way the testing program is carried out by the state. (JD)

The text of a conversation with a Florida special education administrator explores such aspects as the skills that are being tested, how standards were derived, the effects of testing on curricula, special diplomas, and the improvement in scores noted in the second year of the testing. (DLS)

Describes a program in the Dade County (Florida) Public School System which developed career-related courses of study in academic subjects, namely mathematics and language arts. (Editor)

This article describes the development of training materials for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families and discusses statewide systems efforts to promote self-determination. The materials, developed by Florida agencies, are designed to enable individuals and family members to envision and realize choice, inclusion, and…

Stakeholder surveys conducted as part of the development of an accountability and assessment system for five charter schools in Miami-Dade County and Broward County, Florida, revealed high positive response regarding high expectations, school climate, basic skills instruction, and monitoring student progress. The lowest overall rating revealed…

Describes a field study in which the mathematics portion of the PLATO Basic Skills Learning System was used in remedial courses for high school and adult education students at three Florida high schools. Analysis shows that the PLATO system is effective and cost-efficient. (JJD)

Two years after the implementation of Florida's Educational Accountability Act, which mandates statewide competency testing in reading, writing, and arithmetic, the author cites the advantages of the program, refutes criticisms of it and reviews the challenge to it in Federal District court, the Debra P. V. Turlington case. (SJL)

Discusses the need for and the purpose of the Vocational Reading and Math Competency Based Teacher Education (CBTE) Project. The purpose of the project is to develop a CBTE instructional delivery system to help vocational teachers expand their competencies in providing reading and math instruction in conjunction with subject matter teaching. (LRA)

Describes the competency-based teacher training system that will include reading- and math-related teaching skills generic to all vocational program areas and competencies specific to each program area; assessment criteria and learning activities for each competency; individualized, self-paced learning modules; a management system for the learning…

In 1978, Florida was sued by 11 Black students on the grounds that its functional literacy requirement violated due process. This article summarizes the arguments in the case. The initial decision to retain the test after a four-year delay was appealed, but was subsequently upheld by the State's Appeals Court. (CJM)