This study explores and begins baseline documentation of state policies governing teachers' voluntary removal of endorsement areas from their licenses. Through a survey of state licensure officers we find that most states allow teachers to remove endorsements, though the specifics of how this can be done vary from state to state. The No Child Left…

In the last quarter century, China has come a long way toward building a strong contingent of secondary teachers, including English as a foreign language (EFL) teachers. Over the years, impressive progress has been made in strengthening teacher education and raising the educational levels of the teaching force, with the result being a…

A strong academic background and a firm grasp of subject matter are essential qualifications for all candidates. However, there are more important things than content knowledge, academic background, or particular skills, and even more important than prior teaching experience. Teachers with the right stuff are teachers who have the character,…

This report presents and analyzes data from the 2004-05 school year related to the characteristics of charter schools in Colorado, including student achievement and school performance. The purpose, methodology and growth of charter schools in the state is discussed, followed by an overview of the background and mandates of the Colorado Charter…

This report is the second in a series of policy papers on the education of educators. It identifies several model teacher education programs, but also finds that the majority of the nation's teachers are prepared in programs that have low admission and graduation standards and cling to an outdated vision of teacher education. Both state…

This study supports efforts by the U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to foster greater state accountability and establish data-driven planning and self-assessment processes that help states and schools to address provisions of the recently enacted Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act…

Growing awareness of the importance of teacher quality in mathematics and science has stimulated a variety of national reports and funded initiatives for the purpose of improving teaching and learning in K-12 schools. This study examined the work of awardees in one federally-funded program that included a focus on increasing the number, quality,…

This is the third in a series of four books presenting a variety of field experience program models and philosophies that drive the programs provided to preservice teachers during their undergraduate teacher preparation. This publication explores the internal workings of the relationships and events that have an impact on all the persons involved…

This document is intended to be a self-evaluation tool to assist Colorado early childhood programs in working toward quality services. Eleven sections provide rating criteria on: (1) interaction among staff and children; (2) curriculum; (3) family-staff partnership; (4) staff qualifications and development; (5) administration; (6) staffing…

A survey of a random sample of Illinois elementary, junior, and senior high school second language teachers investigated three areas: (1) teacher preparation, training, and oral proficiency levels; (2) percent of the target language used by the teacher in the classroom within a specific time span; and (3) the teacher-perceived usefulness and…

This publication reports on progress made by the state of Indiana toward the National Education Goals. It describes state programs, initiatives and strategies that were developed to achieve each goal. Each national goal is conceptualized in long-term objectives. Strategies to meet various indicators of each goal are highlighted and data on…

A study investigated the characteristics of 14 second language institutes available to adults in Sana'a (Yemen), an area in which second language instruction has historically been difficult to obtain. Data were gathered through interviews and observation. It was found that seven of the institutions offer English instruction, and five offer Arabic…

This paper presents the views of a member of the committee of the Council for Exceptional Children/Council on Education of the Deaf on professional standards. It addresses the professional challenges suggested by these new standards, including collaboration among university programs, state agencies, and local districts to establish compatible…

This paper offers an overview and analysis of the status of teaching as an occupation and of teacher development in the United States. An opening section describes the development of the industrial-based education model that has been in place for this century and the reform movements that have started in the past two decades. A section on the…

This vocational program guide is intended to assist local administrators, regional coordinating councils, teachers, and others throughout Florida in offering a financial records clerk program. The following topics are covered: program content and structure (program description, job titles and descriptions, content, standards for program courses,…