Describes the planning, leadership, and organizational strategies that formed the basis for the Houston School District's efforts to implement standards-based reform. Identifies some reform initiatives that need to be expanded, such as new uses of online instruction and new approaches to the recruitment and training of teachers. (PKP)

Reviews the current status of Black Americans at all levels of education and asserts the need to begin to prepare youths early in their school years for higher education and for careers in teaching. Examines the role of testing in this context. (Author/GC)

The authors review a variety of strategies that could be employed by school districts, teacher education institutions, and state agencies to attract and retain or retrain Hispanic teachers in math and science. (MT)

Discusses the growing trend for military retirees to become teachers. Such retirees (particularly officers) possess education, training, and experience that translate well into the classroom. Training is available to prepare them for teaching, and federal legislation is being considered to facilitate military second careers in education. (SM)

Consists of nine articles discussing the necessary characteristics of agriculture teachers of the future. Includes viewpoints from both experienced and beginning teachers. Topics include certification, recruitment, and the balance between activities and classroom instruction. (CH)

For the brightest students the most significant reasons why they won't teach relate to frustrating working conditions, bureaucratic requirements, the lack of professional control, and few opportunities for intellectual growth, as well as these students' intolerance for diversity in the workplace and their perception of teaching as a "boring…

The Maryland State Department of Education Task Force on Recruiting Minorities for Professional Staff Positions was charged by the State Superintendent in August 1987 with developing a systematic state plan of action to increase the number of minorities in professional positions throughout Maryland's public schools. The group specifically…

The report reviews the status of black students in the Austin (Texas) Independent School District for the year 1982. It provides information on student enrollment, demographic distribution, achievement, graduation rates, achievement on college admission tests, retention and promotion, programs for low achievers, dropouts, discipline, vocational…

Comprehensive reform in the ways teachers are recruited, trained, evaluated, and rewarded is required if the status of the teaching profession and the present quality of education is to be improved. A new career structure, simplification of certification, and reconceptualization of the teaching role are possible remedies. (KH)

A survey reported in "Education Week" suggests the purported science/mathematics education crisis is highly diverse. Although teacher shortage is the central issue, some states report slight shortages or surpluses of qualified teachers. In addition, little/no consistency among states in use of financial incentive programs to recruit/retain…

Explores how competency tests and other measures can be used to improve the quality of teaching in the current context of teacher preparation. Proposes a teacher education model aimed at early motivation toward teaching careers, stronger subject-matter competence, and master's degree level preparation. (GC)

A number of forces steer talented undergraduates away from the choice of teaching as a profession. Both liberal arts colleges and professional educators have helped their brightest students to view precollege teaching as a career that is legitimate only for those who can't aspire to more prosperous fields. (KH)

A brief history of legislative acts and public policies which have affected the supply of black teachers is given. Various educational reform movements are summarized. Questions about the future of education with regard to educating an increasing number of minorities equitably are posed. (JL)

In anticipation of heavy faculty retirements in the next decade and the attractiveness of professional and high-technology careers, many institutions are recruiting and developing bright young liberal arts scholars today and looking at the resulting opportunities for curriculum change. (MSE)

This information kit discusses the need to have trained, qualified, dedicated teachers in all U.S. classrooms. Section 1 discusses the background of efforts to raise standards in U.S. education and examines the role teachers play. Section 2 describes the current state of the U.S. teaching force, noting that many teachers are underqualified, that…