In-depth interviews were conducted with 23 deaf adults (ages 17 to 56) who had been educated in South Africa, to determine their impressions about the education system there. Ten of those interviewed had moved to the U.S. while the remaining 13 were still living in South Africa . The interviews were administered in sign language, with video…

This paper presents findings of a study that asked administrators to identify the skills that administrative candidates should possess in the year 2000 and the administrator-preparation courses that universities should offer. Data were collected through telephone interviews that were conducted with a total of 80 Long Island, New York,…

The Kentucky Beginning Principal Internship Program (KBPIP)--the first of its kind in the United States--was mandated by the Kentucky General Assembly to upgrade the quality of educational leadership in the schools through testing and an internship program especially for school principals. Following an overview of educational reform in Kentucky…

This paper examines rural/nonrural differences in the secondary science teachers' work force, using data from the Longitudinal Study of American Youth. The national probability sample included 456 middle or secondary science teachers from 93 schools. T-tests and multivariate analyses were used in the study. Relative to their nonrural colleagues,…

Findings from a study that identified the value of 13 competencies in terms of certification and employment standards for educational administrators are presented in this paper. A survey mailed to 11 large-city school superintendents, 22 state departments of education, and 43 administrator preparation programs produced response rates of 69, 100,…

In 1976, Nigeria made a commitment to giving its children six years of universal elementary education, in part to remedy regional imbalances in educational provision. Another objective was to promote children's view of themselves first as Nigerian citizens and then as members of tribal groups. Implementation of the plan encountered several…

Two major problems of state certification of teachers are decline in the quality of teacher candidates and the inability of qualified applicants to be certified without majoring in education. With improved knowledge about how good teachers teach and what is essential for beginning teachers to know, teacher education programs are likely to remain…

The "National Survey of Economic Education 1981" presented an overly optimistic view of the status of economic education which is not substantiated by a careful review of national and state data or the many recent national surveys on precollegiate education. This review of both national and state survey data indicates problems in both…

Professional competency in psychologists wishing to treat children and families is an area of considerable concern and disagreement. Three types of practitioners comprise the bulk of the problem: clinical psychologists, who lack specific child-oriented training; developmental psychologists, who wish to serve children but lack traditional clinical…

The deterioration of the American public education system is not related to current teacher and administrator commitment; rather, there is a philosophic confusion about what the educational system can and should do for pupils and about the role that school administrators should play within that system. The essential reform necessary today is the…

The purpose of this study was to examine certification requirements for trade and industrial (T&I) education teachers across the United States. Data were collected through mailed surveys to state supervisors for T&I education. After two follow-up mailings, responses were received from all states except California and the District of Columbia.…

Issues associated with the lack of statistical skills among educational and psychological researchers are discussed. Issues are associated with accreditation standards, faculty positions for psychometric specialists, measurement curricula, and licensing organizations. The Test User Qualification Working Group has produced a model test user…

The Teacher Assessment Program (TAP) presents alternative modes of teacher evaluation to inform the deliberations of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS). Three experimental methods of assessment--simulation exercise, portfolios, and simulation-based portfolios--were implemented by various groups of teachers. Practical…

Based on 18 months of extensive research and study, the New Mexico State Department of Education developed the Staff Accountability Plan to address the issue of teacher accountability and certification. This plan, which consists of three provisions, came into existence as a result of concern expressed by the general public, legislators, and…

An overview is presented of the actions of the General Assembly and the State Board of Education of North Carolina in authorizing a number of education proposals focusing on the accountability of school personnel. Progress highlights in the efforts to improve and maintain quality teacher preparation programs are outlined; these highlights cover…