Criticism and recommendations made toward teacher education programs do not usually examine the diversity among these programs. This article explores characteristics of various institutions, their education students, and the content of their programs. (DF)

This article describes a successful project to recruit math and science majors into a Master's level secondary school teacher education program. A collaborative effort between the university, public school systems, and industry with paid internships and economic and career incentives were an important element in this program. (DF)

Research shows that many students entering teacher education programs are deficient in writing skills. This article focuses on how to develop, administer, and score a writing sample. (Author/CB)

This article offers systematic procedures for designing and conducting follow-up studies of teacher education graduates. Also offered are recommendations for formulating instrument questions and scales, determining questionnaire length and appearance, writing the cover letter, planning the follow-up reminder procedures, and comparing respondents…

Using 11interacting parameters containing a wide range of variables, teacher education programs can be displayed in a matrix, which provides a device for ordering, summarizing, and synthesizing available literature and for generating new questions for research. Construction and uses of the matrix are illustrated. (MT)

Testing prospective teachers in the basic skills is becoming standard practice for admission to teacher education programs, adversely affecting minorities and having negative implications for equal opportunity within teaching. A program of diagnosing and remediating weaknesses of prospective teachers is described.(MT)

Immediate actions in any number of areas are required if those involved in teacher education are to restore their credibility and to prepare effective teachers for the future. Eight "imperatives" are identified and explained in detail. (JMK)

Futures researchers agree on the need to examine educational institutions and programs and to plan and implement change. However, a fundamental contradiction exists between the broad goals for education relected in teacher education programs and those held by futures researchers. (JMK)

This article presents results of a nationwide survey of colleges of teacher education, offers insights into the nature of the schools' responses to the computer education challenge, and makes future predictions. (JMK)

Alternative standards for admission into teacher education programs should be considered for Blacks and other minorities who are sometimes unable to gain admission to teacher education programs because of inadequate entrance examination scores. Various alternative standards are described. (JMK)

This article contains 18 annotated citations selected from the ERIC database to provide background information and stimulate discussion on future teacher education practices. (JMK)

Excerpts from observers of the conference "Policies, Practices, and Research in Teacher Education: Beyond the Looking Glass" illustrate the variety of recommendations to improve teacher education and the quality of teaching that emerged during this conference. Conference observers were Hendrik Gideonse, Shirley Hord, Thomas J. Lasley, Preston…

Changes in schools and teacher education programs are interrelated and involve political, economic, social, and educational reforms. This article explores the current situation of the teaching profession and discusses the importance of incentives. (DF)

This article reports on a survey of chief state school officers which assessed state policies that influence the quality of teachers and teaching. Twenty-one recommendations to help guide state educational policy and strengthen teacher preparation are discussed. (DF)

Teacher education is described using opinions from critics both inside and outside the profession. A new model for teacher preparation is proposed that is based on four different models. Several unique teacher education programs are reviewed. (DF)