Although there is great interest in attracting talented and underrepresented individuals into public-sector careers, there is also concern that graduates of colleges and universities may not be considering the public sector and that government agencies are not doing all they could to attract the next generation of workers. This report seeks to…

There is overwhelming evidence that children's early years, from birth through preschool, are a crucial time for their development, and that high-quality early learning opportunities support children's school readiness, promote later life success, and yield a return of up to $7 for every $1 invested. Unfortunately, despite having the sixth-largest…

A skilled workforce is key to a thriving California economy. Strong and growing demand for highly educated workers has been a hallmark of the state's economy for decades, and forecasts show this demand continuing into the future. If current trends continue, about 40 percent of jobs in California will require at least a bachelor's degree by 2030.…

When discussing the role of higher education as it applies to students, responses often devolve into two opposing camps: one for people who advocate for and defend the role of liberal arts education as basic to the preservation of democracy and freedom, and the other for people who care about the connection between what students learn in…

This report synthesizes findings from extant empirical research to identify nine key policy areas that state policymakers and stakeholders in California can leverage to improve English learners' (ELs') opportunities and outcomes across the state. Importantly, the report situates these policy areas within the current framework of California state…

California's Teacher Trainee Certification Program places responsibility for preparation of teacher trainees on local school districts with collaboration from institutions of higher education. The Professional Development Plan is reviewed and implications of alternative certification are developed. (MT)

Responses of faculty members and administrators of eight Southern California colleges and universities are reported and appraised. The more important outcome of this research project was a revelation of faculty need for more value on teaching effectiveness as a promotional criterion. (Editor/LBH)

This study attempted to determine the appropriateness of the National Teacher Examination (NTE) for certifying competency of applicants for teaching credentials. One conclusion is that the NTE is a valid instrument but that grade point averages need to be considered as well. (SM)

Increasing demands on educational administrators have made it essential to assess the programs that prepare them for their positions. The California Commission on Teacher Credentialing has identified essential school administrator skills. A study of California school administrators gauged how well preparation programs readied them for school…

The California legislature's conception of teacher education and its response to the state's need for improved bilingual education, for recriutment of teachers in critical subject matter areas, and for recruitment of teachers with strong academic preparation are discussed. Implications for preservice policy and research are identified. (DF)

It is widely acknowledged that programs to prepare administrators for their roles are inadequate and are not designed with coming changes in education in mind. States must take responsibility for changing preparation programs to meet these challenges. Much of the discussion about preparation programs centers on the knowledge base administrators…

This paper briefly discusses trends since the mid-1960's and the situation as of 1981 with regard to faculty status for academic librarians, particularly in California. Issues mentioned include working the academic as opposed to the calendar year, promotion, job qualifications, tenure, sabbatical leaves, research requirements, writing for…

This article reports a study undertaken with two major purposes: to develop a profile of the ideal dean of education and to discover the impact of the Ryan Act upon the relative power of the dean of education within the higher education setting. (Author)

With increased discussion of universal preschool in California, and the possibility of increased educational standards for early childhood educators, it has become critically important to assess the capacity of the state's higher education system to meet rising demands for teacher preparation. Thus far, the discussion is moving toward raising the…

One provision of the Ryan Act, a legislative move intended to improve teacher training programs in California, was the requirement that all teacher candidates be examined for competence in both speaking and oral reading. To ascertain how shools of higher education across that state were dealing with this provision, a questionnaire was sent to 38…