All teacher applicants in Pinellas County (Florida) must pass a screening test. Self-instructional materials are provided on request. (Author/MLF)

Describes trends in the minimal competency movement in Florida and several other states and speculates about future trends in minimum-competency testing. (DD)

The article examines some of the implications of minimum competency standards and alternative policies for handicapped students. It is concluded that although the alternative of determining policies on an individual basis presents problems in terms of consistency and equity across handicapped students, it still seems to be the best approach. (SBH)

In this article, the author presents the story of Hope--an education student who, despite many successes, was consistently unable to pass the reading portion of a screening test (Praxis I) that is a prerequisite to student teaching in her home state of Georgia. Hope's only trouble was the fact that she was a slow reader due to attention deficit…

The literature on competency-based human resource (HR) management provides a strong case for moving from a jobs-based to a competency-based approach to human resources. There is agreement in the literature (Dubois, Rothwell, Stern, & Kemp, 2004; Lucia & Lepsinger, 1999) on the benefits of using competencies throughout HR systems and impact…

This paper provides an exposition on simple and complex comparisons within the framework of Poisson regression. Poisson regression is well suited for the analysis of event count outcomes. Since simple and complex comparisons with both analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple linear regression (MLR) are common, the similarities between Poisson…

Common practices regarding competency testing for handicapped students have ranged from inclusion and exclusion to selective inclusion based on handicapping condition. Factors involved in deciding about minimum competency testing include conceptualizing the categories of handicaps into two groups: students who require a modified learning…

Educators were asked to read a description of a minimum proficiency test required for high school graduation and select a cutoff score for it. The 24 descriptions used were formed as all possible combinations of a test content, a level of student performance, a penalty for failing the test, and a community response to the test. Of the 223…

This overview of competency based education (CBE) explores some of the important policies and dimensions of CBE that go beyond the popularized notion that simple tests can be devised to make student promotion and graduation decisions or to demonstrate possession of required or desired competencies. Examined are such areas as the reasons CBE has…

The report summarizes information from a survey involving 54 state and territory directors of special education who responded to six questions regarding the following: mandated competency testing programs, individuals required to take the test, special procedures used in administering the test, awarding regular or special diplomas to handicapped…

This paper examines some of the negative consequences that have occurred in school districts attempting to comply with state legislation in regard to competency testing. It analyzes four definitions of competency assessments for elementary schools and then lists several possible results of a hasty response to competency testing mandates. The paper…

This response to a previous article concerning the use of the CBEST considers the importance of periodic review of testing and scoring procedures, the uses and improvement of these procedures, and the search for alternatives which better suit the intended purposes. (CB)

This article describes the teacher testing requirements that have been mandated by the Texas legislature. Teacher tests which are already in effect or will be required are: a basic skills tests; an initial certification test; an incumbent educators test; a master teacher test; and an alternative certification test. (MT)

This study correlated scores on the NTE Test of Professional Knowledge (PK) with the Rating Scale of Student Teacher Competence (RSSTC) and between each of these with overall grade-point average (GPA). The lack of relationship between PK and RSSTC scores indicates that the PK may measure a different domain. (MT)

The Debra P. versus Turlington case marked the first major inquiry into content validity of a student competency testing program. The Florida federal district court determined material assessed on the test had been taught in Florida's classrooms. Schools may deny regular diplomas to students who fail the test. (DWH)