This publication presents several articles about the profession of teaching as well as recent conversations with experts in the field. The articles include: "Putting National Board Certification to the Test" (David T. Gordon); "Teacher Excellence: Improving the Conversation" (a conversation with Ann E. Harman); "What…

A growing number of community college students no longer come to campus. The Internet is a catalyst for what many believe will be an explosion in distance and distributed education. More older, part-time, working students than ever before are attending higher education. They do not want a traditional relationship with their colleges. They want to…

The first phase of the study described was designed in 1986 to investigate why some high-ability minority students follow through with their plans to enroll in college and major in mathematics, science, or engineering (MSE) fields, while others do not. An initial study was succeeded by a first follow-up in 1987, which indicated that minority…

This report summarizes the data from the Study of Special Needs in Special Education (SPeNSE), a national study of personnel in special education. It focuses on data related to recruiting and retaining high-quality special education teachers. Findings indicate: (1) in 1999-2000, more than 12,000 openings for special education teachers were left…

This report describes a longitudinal evaluation of an on-going 5-year program at the University of Michigan to improve minority student retention and academic performance. The Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) creates research partnerships between first- and second-year students and faculty researchers, and provides peer…

This report examines the postsecondary financing strategies of undergraduates, describing how they combine work, borrowing, and attendance to support their postsecondary enrollment and examines the relationship between various financing strategies and students' persistence in postsecondary education. The report uses data from the 1992-93 National…

This collection of 33 tables provides data on various aspects of higher education in Maryland. The first table provides comparative statistics for Maryland and the country at large in the areas of educational achievement, composite SAT scores (1997), enrollment, campus mix in enrollment, degrees conferred, average resident undergraduate tuition…

To help combat the problem of beginning teacher/high attrition rate, the Cincinnati Initiative for Teacher Education (CITE) program was piloted in the '93-'94 school year with University of Cincinnati students and the '94-'95 school year with the Cincinnati Public Schools. In '95-'96, students participated in half-time teaching internships. For…

To determine the factors that have contributed to persistence in successful Native American students, this study investigated student expectations, life experiences on campus, perceptions of support and lack of support for cultural identity, difficulties encountered, perceptions of how the Native American's college experience differs from that of…

This paper examines Kate Walsh's Abell Foundation report, which purports to prove there is no credible research supporting the use of teacher certification as a regulatory barrier to teaching and argues against reforms that would strengthen incentives to bring qualified teaches to inner city schools. This paper discusses inaccuracies in Walsh's…

A study explored behavioral factors to explain why non-completions were higher among trainees than apprentices. A survey of 797 apprentices and trainees who did not complete training and 462 of their employers was followed by focus groups with new apprentices, employers, and training providers. Findings indicated most new apprentices commenced…

This multimedia School Development Outreach Project package on teacher quality provides a perspective on this emerging education issue arising from national, state, and local leaders. The package contains a set of two audiotapes and a booklet. The booklet gives an overview of the issue, examples of research and current practice, and suggestions…

This research asked whether there was a difference in student outcomes in courses taught in both Internet-based and campus-based formats. Thirty-four courses were offered in both Internet-based and campus-based formats at Nova Southeastern University (Florida) during fall term 1999, enrolling 1,613 undergraduate and graduate students. Outcomes…

This study investigated whether the one-year retention rate for the cohort of full-time, baccalaureate-degree-seeking, first-time freshmen could be predicted from institutional and aggregate cohort characteristics, including institutional type and control, institutional size, cohort size, average entrance exam score, percentage of part-time…

This report presents data from surveys of teachers, students, and principals on issues such as teaching quality and methods, school environment, expectations, attitudes, and job satisfaction. High-quality teaching is associated with students' having more positive attitudes about learning, school, and their futures. It is also related to…