The National Academy of Education (NAEd) undertook this consensus report on the evaluation and improvement of teacher preparation programs (TPPs). Specifically, this consensus report aims to (1) identify and disseminate best practices for evaluating and improving TPPs to promote teacher effectiveness and student achievement; (2) provide…

A tongue-in-cheek look at methods used for curriculum development by many colleges and universities compares the process to two others: destruction of trees and trial by ordeal. Forests are destroyed to produce large quantities of paper for printing of curricula in many versions, followed by Kafkaesque committee scrutiny. (MSE)

Recognizing that textbook adoption procedures and evaluation criteria vary from state to state or district to district, the authors present some general guidelines on screening and evaluation that should prove helpful to any elementary textbook adoption committee. (Author/SJL)

This protocol explains the new system for assessing research quality at research universities located in the Netherlands. It discusses the legal and historical background for establishing a new system of quality determination in research, describes the essential aspects of the research assessment process and the particular tasks of…

Describes one school system's successful development of a principal selection process that utilizes a screening/advisory committee. Includes methods for committee selection, sample interview questions, and evaluation and decision-making techniques. (IW)

The approach used by the University of Texas at Houston to fill a key administrative position is described. The method used a team of 13 members representing each school involved and other key constituents. Factors affecting the team's cohesiveness, procedures, and follow-up activities are explained. (MSE)

The purpose of this project was to develop and disseminate a manual that provides school personnel with help in developing programs of vocational assessment that are useful for handicapped students. The project was developed to fill a need for a vocational assessment manual for implementation with handicapped students in the public schools. An…

The guidelines contained in this manual were written to outline the role of the visiting team members and the team leader and to familiarize the team with the details necessary to conduct a comprehensive external evaluation of Wisconsin secondary vocational programs. The responsibilities of school personnel are also spelled out so that team…

Outlines a 13-step process to develop a tailor-made administrator evaluation system for schools which emphasizes process and anticipates resistance to change. (MD)

Presents a systematic plan for developing a district-wide approach to computer based instruction (CBI) for local education agencies (LEAs). Topics discussed include establishing a computer committee to help with planning; identifying goals and objectives; implementation strategies; personnel; equipment purchases; courseware selection; staff…

This paper considers how to determine leadership characteristics when selection committees conduct a search for a college or university president. It is based on the premise that specific psychological orientations, levels of consciousness, and motivations conducive to successful leadership in higher education can be identified. Search Committees…

The accreditation process of the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) is described along with recommendations to help schools make the most of the process. Following a brief description of the purpose and composition of WASC, the four steps of the accreditation process are listed: (1) the use of a school self-evaluation instrument;…

This manual provides a model process for the evaluation of instructional computer use by school districts. A framework is provided for the evaluation of what districts are currently doing, and suggestions are made as to who should be involved in the evaluation, what and how to evaluate, when the evaluation should take place, and how long it will…

Designed as a guide to conducting informal evaluations of middle school programs, the nine sections of this booklet review current thinking on issues of evaluation and offer sample questions to be considered by school evaluation teams. Following introductory materials, the first section reviews the benefits to conducting evaluations of…

A system for faculty evaluation is presented that suggests a performance middle ground appropriate to the realities of teaching while promoting the values associated with performance-based evaluation: measurability, objectivity, integration of performance with recognition and compensation, flexibility in application, discrimination among…