Parents of children with autism face many challenges that arise from the practical, day-to-day issues of living with autism. The specific goals of this guide are to help parents: (1) find information about autism; (2) distinguish between research-based and non-research-based information; (3) become savvy consumers of information by giving them the…

The goal of this primer is to help policymakers and other interested individuals answer three big questions: (1) What does the research say? (2) Is the research trustworthy? (3) How can the research be used to guide policy? Answering these questions will help policymakers: (1) make evidenced-based decisions about education policies; (2) gain a…

The Education Commission of the States conducted interviews in six school districts in five different states (California, Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, and Texas) to understand how districts can use data most effectively. These districts had used data to dramatically improve student achievement. Districts that make wise use of data have strong…

Information gathered from the Bureau of the Census and a review of the literature available indicate that few school districts make use of the comprehensive data collected by the decennial federal census or the data collected and updated annually by the individual state departments of education. Educational planners should have a complete…

This guide to the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is designed to help the secondary data analyst use the NAEP and to introduce some of the sophisticated technology used by the NAEP. The NAEP has been gathering information on American students since 1969. It samples populations that consist of all students in U.S. schools, both…

Designed to help educators locate the most up-to-date research and information available for decision making, this handbook summarizes a vast collection of current educational, technical, and sociological information in computer databases. As online information systems multiply and become more consumer-oriented, and as microcomputers and modems…

Institutional researchers and student financial aid officers can collaborate to construct the longitudinal data files needed to study students persistence and recommend persistence policy. (Author/MSE)

To assist in local school improvement, Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) has developed an approach in which teams of local educational leaders are made aware of the results of effective schooling research and are trained in the processes of change and improvement. Research reviews have shown specific elements of schooling at the…

Focusing on the changing roles of institutional researchers (IRs) due to the widespread distribution of computer technology, this monograph explores the effective application of IR skills to maximize the impact of research on campus policy making. The discussion is centered around three major principles guiding institutional research: know the…

This manual contains nine articles intended to assist student financial aid professionals in conducting research. Initial chapters provide basic information for those starting to do such research while later chapters deal with more complex issues. Some chapters include appendices that provide examples of the techniques under consideration. from…

Parents of children with autism face many challenges that arise from the practical, day-to-day issues of living with autism. The specific goals of this guide are to help parents: (1) Find information about autism; (2) Distinguish between research-based and non-research-based information; (3) Become savvy consumers of information by giving them the…

Emory University, Georgia, has a space and equipment database management system that maintains inventories and generates reports. (MLF)

Performance-based evaluation, along with a database of reliable and objective information concerning existing educational facilities, can help planners identify facility needs. An example of such a system in Vigo County, Indiana, is provided. (MLF)

Implementing a computer-aided facilities management program begins with establishing priorities, determining the computer capability available, and determining the necessary budget. A space planning and management model is presented with techniques for the collection and storage of the required data. (MLF)

Comprehensive facility management databases designed by the Facility Management Institute of Ann Arbor (Michigan) have three major sections or "files": the space inventory file, the property control file, and the building and grounds file. The first two are alpha-numeric in design, while the third is essentially a graphic file. The space inventory…