Competency Based Education: Understanding a Political Movement

Notes

• I am much indebted to Jack M. Ross for his comments and insight in reviewing earlier drafts of this article.
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• Jeanne S. Chall , “Minimum Competency in Reading,” Phi Delta Kappan 60 ( 1979 ): 351 – 52 Gordon Cawalti, “National Competency Testing,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 (1978):619–21; Chris Pipho, “Minimum Competency Testing in 1978,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 (1978):585–88.
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• Chall , “ Minimum Competency ”; Barbara Deane and Jerry A. Walker, “Florida Basic Skills Test,” American School Board Journal 165 (1978):28–30; Dorothy Z. Seymour, “Let's Reconsider Minimum Competency Standards,” Journal of Reading 23 (1979):215–21.
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• For examples of the concerns of educators see: Thomas E. Barone , “Reading, Writing and Mastery Learning,” Educational Leadership 36 ( 1979 ): 187 – 91 Gerald W. Bracey, “Some Reservations About Minimum Competency Testing,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 (1978):549–52; Cawalti, “National Competency Testing”; Walt Haney and George Madaus, “Making Sense of the Competency Testing Movement,” Harvard Educational Review 48 (1978):462–84; Joe Nathan and Wayne Jennings, “Educational Bait and Switch,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 (1978):621–25; William Van Til, “What to Expect if Your Legislature Orders Literacy Testing,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 (1978):556–57; Arthur E. Wise, “Why Minimum Competency Testing Will Not Improve Education,” Educational Leadership 36 (1979):546–48.
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• Cawalti , “ National Competency Testing ”; Louis Rubin, “Educational Achievement and Public Satisfaction,” Educational Leadership 36 (1979):537–40; Haney and Madaus, “Making Sense.”
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• Rubin , “ Educational Achievement ,” p. 538 .
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• “ Help Teacher Can't Teach ,” Time , 16 June 1980 , pp. 54 – 63
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• Rubin , “ Educational Achievement. ”
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• Robert L. Ebel , “The Case for Minimum Competency Testing,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 ( 1978 ): 546 – 49 Haney and Madaus, “Making Sense.”
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• Ebel , “ The Case ,” p. 547 .
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• Rubin , “ Educational Achievement ,” p. 539 .
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• Haney and Madaus , “ Making Sense. ”
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• Ibid. , p. 475 .
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• Other groups also have been excluded at various times throughout our history; however, the case of American blacks is singular and has had a more pervasive impact on our society.
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• J. Harvie Wilkinson , From Brown to Bakke ( New York : Oxford University Press , 1979 ), p. 15 .
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• Ibid. , p. 309 .
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• Regents of University of California v. Bakke , 438 U.S. 265, 98 S. Ct. 2733, 57 L. Ed., 2nd 750.
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• Wilkinson , Brown to Bakke , p. 298 .
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• Haney and Madaus , “ Making Sense. ”
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• Merle Steven McClung , “Are Competency Testing Programs Fair? Legal?,” Phi Delta Kappan 59 ( 1978 ): 397 – 400
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• Deborah P. v. Turlington , 474 F. Supp., 244 (M.D. Fla. 1979 ).
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• Walt Haney , “Trouble Over Testing,” Educational Leadership 37 ( 1980 ): 640 – 50
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