There have been changes in approaches in certifying public school teachers, but when viewed in historical perspective, these have been changes in degree rather than changes in kind. This paper charts the history of certification/licensure and teacher testing to facilitate better understanding of the issue. The second task is to show the influence…

The educational reform movement has brought a mandate to test prospective teachers from training entry through exit and certification. Concentrating upon recent literature, this report explores current trends and policies in teacher testing. A review of what tests measure and how tests are being used is included. The negative impact of testing on…

Concern about the preparation and competence of teachers has brought about a rapid spread of teacher competency assessment programs. Currently, 36 states test or plan to test teachers prior to certification. Two states, Arkansas and Texas, are already involved with testing teachers in service. Teacher competency testing has become embroiled in…

Two purposes guided this study: to examine high school administrators' uses, if any, of the Pennsylvania communication credential in teacher employment and to examine the attitudes and employment experiences of communication-credentialed teachers in order to discover what differences their new credential made in their teaching assignments. During…

New Mexico's investigation of competency-based certification has been a natural outgrowth of educational developments and concerns in the state and does not represent participation in a new educational trend just for the sake of being "in." Concern has been expressed by the legislature, lay groups, and the State Department of Education…

This annotated bibliography contains 115 citations ranging in date from 1957 to 1971. References are divided into five sections: 1) teacher certification and selection; 2) teacher education; 3) modeling, feedback and audiovisual media techniques; 4) observation, measurement, and evaluation; and 5) research on teacher characteristics. When…

This volume is an outgrowth of the 1971 conference on competency-based teacher education at the University of Houston. The authors deal with topics which concern the conference participants. The topics include a) change and challenge in teacher education, b) explicit objectives, c) curriculum design, d) evaluation of teaching behavior, e)…

This article discusses the range of validation studies conducted in Kansas in examining the validity of the National Teachers' Examination as a certification test for that state. It is argued that the validation of certification tests calls for a wider range of studies than typically are undertaken. (JAZ)

The purpose of this study was three-fold. The first purpose was the investigation of the criterion-related validity of the Georgia Teacher Certification Test (TCT) and the Praxis II tests that are used in the teacher certification process in Georgia. The second purpose was to compare decisions based on the two tests. Finally, the effects of using…

This report presents information on three topics for which Congress mandated annual reports starting in 2001. Information comes from state surveys on teacher certification and licensure assessments, teacher candidate pass rates, and waivers of certification or licensure requirements. In 37 states, individuals can qualify for initial certificate or…

The rationale for the role of state educational agencies in certifying teachers, the National Teacher Examinations (NTE) program and the new NTE Core Battery are discussed. State certification in Arkansas, Florida and Oklahoma, Louisiana's consideration, and the District Court of South Carolina decision concerning NTE use for certification are…

This article describes Virginia's Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP), implemented to test teacher competence, and to help teachers acquire missing competencies. The effect of BTAP and similar programs on the teaching profession is discussed. Included is an appendix which lists the BTAP competencies and indicators. (IAH)

Sketches three criteria for thinking about an assessment of teaching. Discusses assessment versus professional development, and argues that even if assessment of teaching is only a test, intended to separate the "accomplished" from the "unaccomplished," then it is not a vehicle for reform or change or professional development,…

Presents questions and concerns of a teacher who served as a scoring assessor for the Early Adolescence/English Language Arts field test of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, run by the Educational Testing Service. (SR)

Reports on topics covered and issues addressed during a seminar on improving teacher education for foreign language teachers, covering such areas as current reform efforts, teacher education guidelines, accreditation and certification, recruitment, teacher assessment, teacher education standards, and action plans for the future. (CB)