This ERIC Digest focuses on educational policy analysis at the local school district level. The digest suggests how school boards can use policy analysis as a tool for policy formation and implementation. Several aspects of school district policy analysis are covered in question-and-answer format: (1) Which role of the policy analyst is most…

Some steps to identify an initial set of indicators and to develop alternative indicator systems are outlined for educational evaluation and illustrated through the example of a National Science Foundation (NSF) study of mathematics and science education. The first step is to conceptualize potential indicators to specify a comprehensive monitoring…

Educational indicator systems are similar to indicator systems used to monitor the economy, the criminal justice system, or other social systems. Governments recognize the value of statistics that provide current information and make trend analysis and forecasts possible. Education statistics will qualify as indicators only if they serve as…