In this commentary, we examine Braverman's insights into the trade-offs between feasibility and rigor in evaluation measures and reject his assessment of the trade-off as a zero-sum game. We, argue that feasibility and policy salience are, like reliability and validity, intrinsic to the definition of a good measure. To reduce the tension between…

Voices concerns over expansion of writing centers. Suggests that writing centers planning to expand should articulate the basic premises upon which their center was built. Suggests that a program of expansion be accompanied by a careful examination of the center's power structure. Urges all writing center expansion preserve a strong human…

Three specific points are made about helping program managers improve their use of information: (1) program managers appear to be the easiest group for evaluators to work with to improve use; (2) realistically, these managers may be the most difficult group to help; and (3) several strategies exist that evaluators use to help program people…

The Cooperative Extension Service has become the largest adult education and human service program in the United States. It makes use of about 1.5 million adult volunteers who spend an average of more than 100 hours each conducting Extension programs under the guidance of extension personnel. Volunteers play a variety of roles including policy…

Reviews alternatives for revitalizing the programs and management of community college student services. As program development models, considers Miami-Dade Community College's computer-based instructional management system; entrepreneurial fee-based services; and divestment of situational or special-interest services to student groups. In…

Attitudes, leadership skills, technical skills, and organizational support make the crucial difference between the reactive and proactive person or organization. These factors create the unique cluster of skills that set the effective continuing educator apart from others. (LRA)

Describes the institutional and programmatic context in which a consultant-evaluation visit was requested at Washington State University and the evaluators' recommendations and subsequent changes that have taken place. Lists five reasons for requesting an evaluation. (MG)

Volunteers play an important role in the activities of the Extension Service. The number of volunteers is increasing, as are the types of jobs they do. However, there are some typical problems in Extension volunteerism. A survey of county Extension agents identified the following problems related to management of Extension volunteers: lack of…

Advocates interprofessional education as an efficacious approach to the professional development of arts administrators. Presents a set of guidelines and goals that support interprofessional education. Warns that failure to realize the interrelated nature of the creation, support, and study of the arts will lead to even more failures in art…

Contract food management can contain food costs and, with the contractor's team of food service professionals, provide creative programs that teach nutrition and add interest to school meals. (MLF)

The Job Opportunities and Basic Skills program (JOBS) is an ambitious federal effort at welfare reform but the federal government has given local operators little direction on how to run it. JOBS can be improved using existing evaluations and analyses of administrative data. Reform depends mostly on capable local administration. (JOW)

The theme of this special journal issue is diagnostic reading instruction. The first of two main articles discuss ways to teach reading in a diagnostic-prescriptive way and the second deals with how to select a reading instruction approach for the mainstreamed child. Regular journal features discuss research on assessing readers' strategies…

This report discusses the continuing concerns of the U.S. General Accounting Office (GAO) in regard to the Department of Education's management and oversight of postsecondary student financial aid programs, especially the Federal Family Education Loan, the Ford Direct Loan, and the Federal Pell Grant Programs. GAO commends the department for its…

Current inservice programs are criticized on the grounds that they do not achieve the objective of improving teachers' mastery of their subjects. It is suggested that these programs can be improved by increasing professional communication between teachers, providing more assistance from specialized consultants, increasing teacher participation in…

Protests the lack of professional respect and lack of professionalism associated with the teaching of English, blaming in part teachers' lack of control of their teaching lives. Presents ten rights and responsibilities basic to the profession. (NH)