In a Texas study of vocational education student loan repayment attitudes, interviews with loan recipients indicate defaults are affected by how much students are pressured to enroll in a program, their understanding of the loan program when signing an application, and how well their vocational education equips them for employment. (Author/MSE)

A survey of one national and three statewide studies (in Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama) of class-size achievement effects revealed no consistent pattern across various subjects and grade levels. However, smaller classes can improve student achievement, particularly in early grades and when teacher quality remains constant. (Contains 36 footnotes.)…

The paper was prepared for continuing education directors in Texas who requested additional information concerning their real estate offerings. Real estate course offerings in three States (Texas, Colorado, and California) are compared and differences and similarities among the program are assessed. A format for a certificate program in Texas is…

The purpose of this 3-month research project was to develop, evaluate, and implement a distributive education program of instruction leading to a Bachelor of Science in Technology degree at the University of Houston. Intended for use also as a statewide model, this interdisciplinary curriculum utilized extensively in its development research…

This report describes a study of the perceptions of central-office supervisors. The purpose of the study was to determine the perceptions of central-office supervisors regarding emerging supervisory practices within a decentralized context. The study further sought to determine the role central-office supervisors perform in exemplary school…

The Cooke County College and Gainesville Independent School District (Texas) jointly offer students the opportunity to obtain 4 full years of electronics training--2 in high school and 2 in college--through an articulation agreement. This "2 + 2" program gives students two options from which to choose depending upon their career goals:…

A study to identify determinants of administrator salaries and school district salary decision-making processes is described in this report. A three-part methodology included a telephone survey of 23 out of 27 administrators, an analysis of formal district salary schedules, and a data analysis of state personnel files. The state records analysis…

An analysis of questionnaire responses from school personnel administrators in 311 Texas districts sought to determine if a correlation existed between personnel selection procedures, school district size, and the identification of successful teachers (defined as those granted a continuing contract or tenure). The study also investigated…

A major criticism leveled at professional education faculty appears to be that their elementary or secondary school experience is often outdated and inadequate. The purpose of this study was to explore the validity of this criticism. A questionnaire designed to investigate the qualifications and elementary secondary teaching experience of teacher…

Provisions of Title III of the Elementary and Secondary Act entitled "Adult Education Act of 1966" charge the Texas Education Agency with responsibility for state administration of adult basic education programs in accordance with a plan approved by the State Board of Education and the United States Commissioner of Education. As one…

The McLennan Community College Multi-County Needs Assessment Project's (MAP) survey to identify employer needs is discussed in the document. The Business and Industry Survey, one component of MAP, was conducted in the central Texas area (Bosque, Falls, Hill, and McLennan counties) during 1974-1975. Survey development and procedures for its…

This report presents the results of a study to determine the personnel development needs of teachers in vocational-technical education; to identify these needs in terms of competencies and instructional areas; to determine to what extent presently offered university courses are related to these specific competency needs; and to survey recent…

Reports on a 3-year project, conducted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Foreign Language Association, and the University of Texas, to help establish an oral proficiency requirement based on the ACTFL guidelines for certification of new foreign language teachers. (Author/CB)

This paper examines issues related to alternative teacher certification, discussing teacher certification in Texas and noting that most researchers agree that both traditional and alternative routes to teacher preparation need improvement. For over a decade, alternative certification has become increasingly available in Texas. This paper…

A state-mandated outcomes assessment test for certification of teachers has been administered in Texas since 1986. At Southwest Texas State University, which produces the most certified teachers in the state, the assessment showed that its students were not also among the best. In response to this situation, a presidential committee conducted…