Micro-credentials vis a vis competency-based certifications of skill domains have existed for decades across vocational-technical education and the professions. What appears to be changing is the "priority" ascribed to different micro-credentials along a credentials continuum that has focused on formal degrees and certificates. This…

For the most part, American colleges and universities have squandered the opportunity to respond to COVID-19 innovatively. Online education has accelerated, but the quality of colleges' new online courses is low. Rather than innovate, colleges simply hope to stay solvent until they can get back to normal. Many in-person colleges will fail to stay…

The "FY 2023 Annual Performance Plan" details the Department's planned strategies and activities to achieve the Strategic Goals and objectives in the "U.S. Department of Education Fiscal Years 2022-2026 Strategic Plan" (see ED625432) as well as the performance indicators that will be used to assess progress on the strategic…

Teacher effectiveness is known to be a critical factor in student learning and success. California has made some notable efforts to strengthen teaching, but the most coherent state-level initiatives have been limited to the earliest stages of teachers' careers. After the credentialing and induction phase, state policy does virtually nothing to…

When Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg sought a leader for the New York City schools in 2002, his outside-the-box choice was Joel I. Klein, a former assistant U.S. attorney general who had no experience as a school administrator. Eight years later, in seeking a replacement for Mr. Klein, Mr. Bloomberg has tapped yet another person from outside education:…

This article takes up the issue of the internationalisation of Vocational Education and Training (VET) reforms, expressed in the way policy instruments such as National Qualifications Frameworks (NQF) are introduced in the European Training Foundation's (ETF) partner countries. There is an international debate and different perspectives regarding…

Across the country, large numbers of young people are dreaming about and planning on attending college. A poll released in 2005 showed that 87 percent of all young people want to go to college. Often, however, parents' and students' dreams for the future are not being realized. Many young people never enroll in a postsecondary institution, and of…

Examined is the national teacher certification program being completed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Appended is a list of five characteristics to be expected of board-certified teachers as well as a short summary of opposition arguments. (SI)

This study of teacher staffing issues in the School District of Philadelphia, the third in a series, outlines the degree to which the district has succeeded in upgrading teachers' professional credentials, recruiting and retaining them, and equitably distributing experienced and credentialed teachers across all types of schools. Since the passage…

California's new standards for training future school counselors link to the current national movement for school reform, ensuring the next generation of school counselors can advocate for both students and for the changes needed in the school counseling profession. (Author)

Discussion of the Australian education system gives a brief overview of the entire system, then details key developments in higher education and in the vocational education sector, including aspects of funding, international cooperation, reform and expansion, quality assurance, delivery systems, apprenticeship programs, responsiveness to the labor…

The preservice licensure and preparation of career and technical education (CTE) teachers was examined to determine whether changes in CTE teacher licensure requirements are necessary. Two overarching missions of CTE were identified. The first was traditional/tech prep (leading to employment). The second was a more general combination of education…

The question of how to best prepare nurses for practice continues to be debated extensively. The crux of the debate is whether a bachelor of science in nursing (BSN) should be required of all registered nurses in the United States or whether an associate degree in nursing (ADN) and diploma programs adequately prepare novice nurses for practice.…