An evaluation is designed to judge the worth of a program in regards to whether or not it should be continued, modified, or eliminated. Program evaluations can be performed either by those inside or outside of the organization, and can occur pre-implementation, during implementation, or at the end of a time period. There are many models or methods…

Each year, Austin Independent School District Department of Research and Evaluation (DRE) staff develop a plan of work to describe the scope of work for the coming year. The plans that make up this document identify programs to be evaluated and services to be provided by DRE staff and provide the blueprints for evaluation that staff will follow…

This article intends to help school psychologists understand the nature of high stakes tests, methods for analyzing and reporting high stakes test data, standards for tests and program evaluation, and application of appropriate practices to program planning and evaluation. Although it is readily acknowledged that high stakes test data are not…

To relieve overcrowded, distracting, and uncomfortable testing conditions, the Dade County (Florida) Public Schools began administering the High School Competency Test on two successive Saturdays, instead of on school days. Classrooms were used, and students received free breakfasts and lunches. The new arrangement improved student performance and…

The uses and misuses of standardized test results used for program evaluation as seen by a staff member of an Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I Technical Assistance Center are described. In ESEA Title I, test scores are used to select students for the program. Although federal requirements do not require using standardized test…

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville conducted a system-wide effort to increase use of student outcome information in assessing and improving academic programs. For this effort, the university received the National Council on Measurement in Education award for an outstanding example of an application of educational measurement technology. (EGS)

Describes a self-access extensive reading project for students studying through the medium of English using graded readers. The project sought feedback from the students who were tested over three university terms. Results indicate that test scores correlate positively with the amount of reading done and that students rated the project favorably.…

The document presents an evaluation of the Cashmere, Peshastin-Dryden, Washington School District's project to establish a comprehensive K-12 career education program, with emphasis placed upon the formative and summative stages. Background information is provided in the following chapters: (1) Objects of Evaluation discusses the evaluation model…

This article describes a reading improvement program operating in elementary schools near Copenhagen. Students take an annual reading test. The classroom teacher and the reading specialist review class scores to identify special-needs students and to plan reading program changes. General reading progress has been improved by this method. (SJL)

In the 1992-93 school year, in response to a request from the Board of Trustees of the Austin Independent School District (Texas) (AISD), the district's Office of Research and Evaluation conducted a retrospective examination of the 1991-92 AISD programs to determine cost-effectiveness when possible. This report describes the review process.…

This mid-1984 "snapshot" of the Austin Independent School District (AISD) focuses on three areas: (1) the state of learning in AISD schools as measured by achievement test results for college bound seniors, graduates, and high achieving, average, and low achieving students; (2) the changes needed in compensatory programs for low…

In a 5-year evaluation of the $6.6 million Challenge 2000 Multimedia Project, technology-using students surpassed nonparticipating peers in developing critical 21st-century job skills. Multimedia Project students outperformed comparison students on content mastery, sensitivity to their audience, and coherent design capabilities. Standardized test…

An evaluation of one school district's bilingual-bicultural program indicated, overall, that the Spanish-based students are receiving greater benefit than the English-based pupils. This might be remedied if more bilingual instruction were given. The program operates in two elementary schools, grades K-6; the report includes materials stating…

Instructional information systems (IIS) are built on current practices in testing and program evaluation, but go beyond them. IIS are computerized data banks that allow users to ask a variety of evaluative questions. Factors which facilitate IIS, characteristics of future systems, and lessons from management information systems are discussed. (GDC)

The outreach activities component of the Responsive Environment Program for Spanish American Children (REPSAC), an extremely successful early childhood bilingual intervention program in Clovis, New Mexico, enabled the project to provide replication services to various local education agencies requesting such services. During 1977-78, student…