Points at which state policies can control entry of individuals into the teaching profession were studied. A 50-state survey identified points of policy intervention and types of policies in effect in each state during 1983-84. Four in-depth case studies provided details about the political environment and rationale behind each policy, the extent…

This essay provides a policy analysis and literature review of selected issues in teacher quality and selection. The first section discusses developments in: (1) teacher quality; (2) quality and selection of minority group teachers; (3) the validity of the National Teacher Examination (NTE); (4) state certification; (5) local eligibility…

This edited transcript of a presentation on state requirements for teacher certification deals with two topics: (1) a model for establishing certificate specifications as an indicator of entry level competencies expected of educational personnel; and (2) relationships among state departments of education divisions, bureaus, units, and sections…

THE PURPOSE OF THIS INVESTIGATION, MODELED AFTER A RPOFESSIONAL LOAD STUDY BY THE ALBERTA TEACHERS' ASSOCIATION, WAS TO ASSESS THE STATE OF ENGLISH TEACHING IN A NUMBER OF EAST LONDON SECONDARY SCHOOLS. SOME ASPECTS OF THESE FINDINGS WERE THEN COMPARED WITH CONDITIONS IN ALBERTA, CANDADA. INTERVIEWS WERE HELD WITH 69 EAST LONDON TEACHERS AND THE…

FIVE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES IN NEW YORK STATE REPORT THEIR PROGRESS IN DEVELOPING NEW APPROACHES TO THE EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATION OF TEACHERS, WITHOUT REGARD TO EXISTING REQUIREMENTS OR REGULATIONS. THE REPORTS ARE CONCERNED MAINLY WITH THE PREPARATION OF SECONDARY TEACHERS OF ENGLISH, BUT EXPERIMENTAL PROGRAMS FOR TEACHERS OF HISTORY,…

The New York State Board of Regents and the State Education Department have approved a plan to implement a written licensing examination as the first step in a process to professionalize teaching. However, important issues and questions are raised when considering this testing component, such as: (1) the questionable validity of tests already in…

Because of the continuing disparity of standards for secondary teachers of speech and theater, the Southern Speech Communication Association (SSCA) is attempting to establish minimum professional standards throughout the states it serves. This document, prepared by a committee of the SSCA, sets forth the need for certification as a method for…

The purpose of this study was to ascertain the effect of a 1972 change in New York certification requirements for vocational education teachers which made it possible for individuals with minimal work experience to become certified to teach vocational subjects. To determine the effect of these changes on local schools, this study attempted to…

The present state certification system for teachers evaluates the teacher's preservice education rather than his in-service ability to bring about the learning of children. Three organizations--teachers' colleges, local schools, and state education offices--must work together to extensively revise the certification procedure. Teachers' colleges,…

The papers contained in this volume are the result of nine seminars conducted during 1972 and the first half of 1973. One concern that dominates many papers is the preparation of individuals for the teaching role. O'Neill reports the evaluation results of a preservice program that maximizes the use of field experiences; Duffey discusses the…

Reports on a 3-year project, conducted by the American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL), the Texas Education Agency, the Texas Foreign Language Association, and the University of Texas, to help establish an oral proficiency requirement based on the ACTFL guidelines for certification of new foreign language teachers. (Author/CB)

Based on a survey of teacher competency testing practices in all the states, the authors provide an analysis of what areas are covered in teacher tests, which tests are used, and how the tests are used in both current and planned state teacher testing programs. (Author/BS)

Formative validation methods were used with over 90 mathematics teachers in Utah to design an assessment of the mathematical and mathematics teaching cognitive competencies of underprepared middle and secondary school mathematics teachers. A summative validation study using 47 subjects indicated that the test was valid and reliable. (Author/PK)

This report presents data on Tennessee's teaching workforce. There has been a recent increase in the percentage of new, inexperienced teachers hired in Tennessee. While there was no change in teacher turnover in recent years, the loss of new teachers became more serious throughout the 1990s. Lack of teacher and administrator diversity remained a…

This report examines the current status of teacher quality in the city and what the School District of Philadelphia is now doing to ensure that all classrooms have highly trained, motivated, and knowledgeable teachers ready to boost the achievement of the district's 188,000 students.The report shows that teacher quality in Philadelphia has not…