In the United States, as public demands for quality teachers have escalated, there has been a corresponding increase in national policy efforts to tie the standards of student success to teacher preparation, licensing, and evaluation. This conceptual paper examines how national authorities used specific policy tools to usurp the state's…

Describes a program in which a preservice music teacher provides instruction for an inner-city, financially troubled elementary school in Washington, DC. Presents an interview with the preservice teacher and the school's music teacher. (CFR)

Asserts that teacher certification is complex, confusing, and important. Argues that the most effective way to change certification guidelines in order to require more geography for preservice teachers may be to change the problems certification guidelines are intended to solve. (CFR)

Contends that recent progress in improving geography instruction at the precollegiate level is not yet reflected at the college level. Maintains that a successful effort to create consensus guidelines for college geography majors would enhance geography's reputation as a science discipline and improve student skills and creativity. (CFR)

The role and expectations of the arts supervisor and administrator have expanded beyond managing personnel and programmatic activities to informing policy decisions. Legislation such as The No Child Left Behind Act, signed by President Bush in 2002, exacerbated this paradigm shift. Thus, the role of arts supervisors and administrators as leaders…

Contends that, despite recent successes, the geographic education community faces serious problems based on its failure to create and maintain strategies for effect preservice teacher education. Argues that a broad cooperative program involving teachers, school district officials, geographic educators, and the community is a potential remedy. (CFR)

Maintains that improving preservice geography teacher education is difficult because few geography faculty understand the teacher education process and many education professors are not well-educated geographically. Discusses 13 recommendations to improve preservice geography teacher education. (CFR)

Traces the origins and development of the National Standards for Arts Education. Discusses the long-term effects the national standards might have on preservice and inservice teacher education. Questions whether national standards might lead to a standardization in arts education that would hamper teacher and student creativity. (CFR)

Discusses issues related to standardized testing and a national art curriculum. Maintains that cultural diversity among students makes valid and fair assessment difficult. Argues that teachers should be trained in the use of authentic assessment methods. (CFR)

Support for Teachers Enhancing Performance in Schools (STEPS) is a World Wide Web and CD-ROM electronic performance support system (EPSS) designed for preK-12 and preservice educators to assist in designing and developing lessons, units, or curricula; this tool was developed around school reform and accountability initiatives in Florida. To…