This report, one in a series from the Teaching and California's Future Initiative (TCF), compiles secondary data from various state agencies and analyzes these data in chapters on Teacher Supply and Demand, Teacher Preparation and Recruitment, and Teacher Induction and Professional Development. Key findings included: (1) an impending bulge in…

Many Americans assume children's publicly funded education begins with kindergarten. To the contrary, kindergarten is not mandated in all states. Moreover, most kindergarten programs implemented in the public education system are half-day; full-day kindergarten is far less frequent. Access to kindergarten is highly dependent on state, school…

Discusses various problems in science education, citing evidence of the problems from such sources as testimony given to congressional committees. Includes discussions of current school practices, teacher certification, and the needed action to resolve the problems. (JN)

Discusses how local, state, and national initiatives are addressing the need for improved financial benefits, better training, and greater recognition for science teachers, and for programs to attract more science students. Suggests that physicists and other scientists become involved in various areas of science education in schools. (JN)

This article reviews and synthesizes recent research on higher education faculty shortages in the special education field, and outlines areas of needed research. Issues discussed include high attrition rates, faculty diversity, and insufficient and misplaced incentives. Strengths and weaknesses of available research are discussed. (Author/PB)

Teacher supply and recruitment, teacher pay and working conditions, institutional structures, and policy contexts are compared for England and Scotland. In Scotland, the fundamental approach to teacher employment and retention is based on rewarding teachers and improving conditions. The exaggerated centralization of English education policy, with…

Reports on characteristics significantly related to teacher retention in a large urban school district using a Cox regression model to model teacher turnover for a sample of 2,327 white, black, and Hispanic-American first-year teachers. Sex, ethnicity, education, and certification route are significantly related to teacher retention. (SLD)

Although necessary for a diversified student body, minority teachers are underrepresented due to a lingering resistance to integration efforts, unappealing classroom conditions, salary issues, and culturally biased professional exams. Equitable placement procedures, incentives, competitive salaries, mentoring programs, subject-area recruitment,…

Reports findings of an unscientific survey of early childhood professionals asked to reflect upon the history, landmark events, and significant trends in the child care delivery system. Three events viewed as most influential are highlighted: (1) World War II; (2) women's movement; and (3) Head Start. Eleven other events also cited are discussed.…

This commentary reviews previous articles highlighting key issues relevant to special education teacher certification. It discusses the low percentage of students who complete teacher education courses and are teaching three years later, the need to restructure special education certification, and the promise of distance education in teacher…

Describes the Milwaukee Teacher Education Center (MTEC), a new system of alternative preservice and inservice teacher education which meets the needs of the Milwaukee Public Schools and prepares teachers to succeed with children in poverty within an urban school district. The paper discusses what works in preparing urban teachers and explains how…

The national landscape of education and professional development is changing. Instructional personnel of students with severe disabilities are frequently untrained, professionally isolated, and in need of current knowledge and best practice in programming for these students. This article describes the need for a shift from a reliance on the…

The Wyoming Community College Commission (WCCC) collaborates with Wyoming's seven community colleges to provide educational experiences that strengthen, support and enrich communities and prepare students to successfully meet life's challenges and recognize and profit from opportunities. Wyoming's seven community colleges provide affordable,…

Secondary vocational-technical education programs in Mississippi are faced with many challenges resulting from sweeping educational reforms at the national and state levels. Schools and teachers are increasingly being held accountable for providing true learning activities to every student in the classroom. This accountability is measured through…

This report examines the efficacy of implementing Fairfax County's elementary language immersion program on a statewide basis in Virginia. The report discusses the current state of elementary foreign language programs in the state, and describes the Fairfax County immersion program for grades one through six. It then presents an evaluation of the…