Florida and Texas have tied evaluation of preservice teacher programs to performance measures. These reforms may have an impact on the functioning of teacher education programs within their institutions of higher education (IHE's). In 1996, Florida's State Board of Education adopted the Florida Education Standards Commission's (ECS) Recommendation…

This paper provides information about teacher quality proposals that are drawing attention from state and local lawmakers. For each proposal, the paper uses the following framework to organize evidence: definition or explanation of the policy, rationale, trends, evidence, and key issues. The paper demonstrates how the framework would organize…

This paper examines the use of portfolio evaluation in accrediting higher education teachers in the United Kingdom. It explains portfolios as an approach to authentic assessment and discusses the issue of reliability in portfolio assessment when teacher accreditation depends on it. Researchers investigated one course, collecting data on 53…

This book offers a step-by-step teacher's guide to developing professional portfolios tailored to specific uses. It is designed for use in professional development programs, teacher assessment programs, and teacher preparation courses. The eight chapters focus on (1) "Defining Portfolios and Their Purposes," (2) "Developmental…

Traditional forms of evaluating teachers (e.g., inspection of credentials, supervisor and peer observation and rating) for purposes of hiring, promotion, and salary increases have served the profession of teaching well for decades and should receive continued support in policy and practice. Newer forms of evaluation--primarily paper-and-pencil…

Describes performance-based certification programs that would be greatly facilitated by the establishment of teacher assessment centers. (Author/RK)

The experience of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards illustrates how issues of assessing the content representativeness of performance assessment can be addressed to ensure validity for certification procedures. Explores the challenges of collecting validation evidence when expert judgments of content are used. (SLD)

The National Board for Professional Teaching Standards emerged in 1987 in response to recommendations by the Carnegie Forum's Task Force on Teaching as a Profession in its 1986 report "A Nation Prepared." This article discusses competition problems arising from national voluntary certification for teachers wishing to demonstrate greater…

Discusses two ways candidates may earn the Child Development Associate (CDA) credential: the CDA Professional Preparation Program (CDA P3), a comprehensive, one-year, postsecondary training program; and Direct Assessment, the route most often followed by CDA applicants, which evaluates the overall competence of candidates based on applicants'…

Presents six letters discussing various aspects of a discussion on restructuring teachers' salaries in the Soviet Union. Considers such questions as who should determine skill level, evaluation criteria for the innovator, cost of living, and differences in school quality. (DK)

Describes the National Board Certification system being developed by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards. Voluntary and uniform nationwide, national certification will signify highly accomplished teaching based on specific professional criteria. Relates the process of setting standards of practice; developing assessment…

"Education Matters" is the monthly newsletter of the Association of American Educators (AAE), an organization dedicated to advancing the American teaching profession through personal growth, professional development, teacher advocacy and protection. This issue of the newsletter includes: (1) You Told Us What You Think of No Child Left…

Recent research demonstrates that teacher quality has a greater impact on student achievement than any other educational factor. Yet there is concern that overall teacher quality is variable, and hard-to-staff schools (i.e., high poverty and minority schools) have an even more difficult time recruiting and retaining quality teachers. The No Child…

It is difficult to estimate the percentage of examinees who pass National Teacher Evaluation (NTE) tests because many users of the tests require that examinees pass different combinations of tests or use different passing scores for each of the tests. This study first develops a taxonomy of state NTE requirements and then computes passing rates…

This paper discusses the results of three pilot projects in which portfolios developed by beginning teachers were used as the basis for the decision to award or deny a continuing teaching license. Highlights are outlined from each project: Project ACT, an alternative certification program through East Carolina University; Project TEACH!, a 3-year…