This Virginia edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on…

To their disadvantage, few Americans--and few in higher education--know much about the successes of historically Black colleges and universities. How is it that historically Black colleges graduate so many low-income and academically poorly prepared students? How do they manage to do so well with students "as they are", even when…

The study examines community college presidents' perceptions about two--year college intercollegiate athletics. Presidents in six states were surveyed about their perceptions of whether community college athletics: (a) enhances pride in the institution among various constituencies, (b) increases enrollment and augments student recruitment, (c) has…

In order to determine the changes in high school graduation requirements and their impact on vocational education programs, a longitudinal study was initiated to track high school and vocational education program enrollments in Virginia and the United States for five years beginning with the 1984-85 school year. A questionnaire was prepared and…

Brief descriptions are provided of 101 "good ideas" that worked in the Virginia community college system. A total of 101 tips, programs, teaching techniques, administrative strategies, and gimmicks are presented, as submitted by members of the faculty and staff of 16 community colleges. The ideas are categorized as: (1) community…

Unquestionably, rural schools face many obstacles in their attempts to attract teachers. However, a survey of preservice teachers working in rural districts found that many of these obstacles stem from misconceptions or a lack of knowledge about what it means to live and work in a rural area. Perception, however, is reality and therefore deserves…

This report on graduate education, requested by the Virginia General Assembly, was developed by a task force that included graduate students, faculty, and administrators. The task force based its work on a previous report issued by an advisory committee of chief academic officers, a review of recent literature on graduate education, and their own…

IN A STUDY COMPLETED IN 1964 BY THE NORFOLK DIVISION OF VIRGINIA STATE COLLEGE, AN ATTEMPT WAS MADE TO IDENTIFY THE FACTORS INVOLVED IN THE DECISIONS OF 224 UNEMPLOYED, UNSKILLED MEN IN THE NORFOLK-PORTSMOUTH METROPOLITAN LABOR MARKET AREA TO FOREGO RETRAINING UNDER THE MANPOWER DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING ACT OF 1962. THE MAJOR DETERRENTS WERE AN…

The purpose of this pilot program was to test a method of orienting and recruiting high school seniors as prospective industrial arts teachers. Students in grade 11 were identified by contacting administrators, guidance personnel, and industrial arts teachers in 35 Virginia high schools. From these contacts 48 students from 13 schools were…

This report presents a blueprint for attracting, developing, and retaining skilled and diverse teachers who effectively increase the achievement of all of Virginia's students. The five recommendations are to: (1) develop a comprehensive database to support Virginia's commitment to teacher quality; (2) expand recruitment initiatives to attract…

The "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" examines what is arguably the single most powerful authority over the teaching profession: state government. This Virginia edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the first of what will be an annual look at the status of state policies…

This document reviews a collection of activities conducted by the Department of Physics at Virginia Commonwealth University to excite young people about physics so that they will be more likely to consider physics as a career. The Society of Physics Students performs demonstrations of physics experiments for Virginia high school physics classes…

The living and working conditions of migrant farmworkers on the Eastern Shore of Virginia have been described as deplorable and possibly the worst in the nation. At the same time, growers in this region have complained of duplication, even triplication, of federal and state regulations designed to improve living and working conditions of these…

The migration of students into and out of Virginia in the fall of 1979 was examined for first-time, full-time students enrolled as undergraduate (freshmen or transfers), first-professional, graduate, or unclassified. Overall, Virginia ranks eighth in the United States in terms of students migrating into the state. It is expected that between 1980…

Compares Adult Basic Education (ABE) in North Carolina where ABE is administered by community colleges and Virginia where ABE is delivered by the public school system. Reports differences in student recruitment, class scheduling, availability of facilities, commitment of institutional leadership, and program funding. Makes recommendations. (DMM)