The costs of evaluation are affected by program characteristics and the extent to which it is important to be confident about proof and causality. They are also affected by decisions about issues, resources, evidence, data gathering, data analysis, and reporting. (CT)

The second part of a report on a comprehensive review of the credit instructional programs offered by Pasadena City College (PCC), this volume contains a technical description of the data collection and assembly procedures used in the program review and provides guidelines for the implementation of the program review model. The first section…

This resource paper describes two recent studies and one report on special education costs and the methodology used in their analyses. Each study and its data source are summarized with a short discussion on the quality of the data and its usefulness and limitations in generating reliable cost estimates for special education. The paper summarizes…

A handbook for participants of a workshop on bilingual program evaluation is presented as part of the Bilingual Evaluation Technical Assistance project. Workshop objectives are as follows: make a schedule for evaluation management tasks; create a staffing plan; prepare a budget appropriate for the particular bilingual evaluation; develop a plan…

This report provides testimony on results of a General Accounting Office (GAO) study of Chapter 1 Compensatory Education programs, Chapter 2 Education Block Grant programs, and dropout prevention programs. The report covers the following: (1) Chapter 1 student selection; (2) Chapter 1 fiscal provisions; (3) Chapter 2 data collection and…

This policy research brief summarizes changes in out-of-home placements of children and youth with mental retardation since the implementation of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) entitlements. Statistics are reported for 1977, 1987, and 1997 to show trends. Statistics were obtained from…

Part 1 of the evaluation process for Project Developmental Continuity, this report presents and analyzes data on the utilization of resources during the third year of operation of 12 participating programs. The report is organized into three chapters, preceded by an executive summary and followed by appendices. Chapter 1 gives an overview of the…

Recommendations of the Study Group on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) are summarized in this report. The report is then reviewed by the National Academy of Education. The recommendations are to: (1) maintain NAEP's continuity; (2) assess the core curriculum; (3) focus on transitional grades (4, 8, and 12) and sample…

A leader's guide for conducting a workshop on managing bilingual program evaluations is presented as part of the Bilingual Evaluation Technical Assistance (BETA) project. After examining how to organize the workshop, the following aids are presented: a preworkshop preparation checklist, a sample room arrangement diagram, a workshop time schedule,…

Educational indicators are a subset of social indicators. They are consistently measurable, conceptually based, policy relevant, and related to the educational process. They can be used to compare educational units, monitor change, test goals, and predict the effects of policy changes. Use of educational indicators requires identification of the…

A study assessed the feasibility of conducting a national cost-benefit analysis of vocational education and presented recommendations for future research on the relationship between vocational education costs and benefits. Following an analysis of the state of the art in utilizing cost-benefit methodologies to evaluate vocational education, a…

Efforts of the U.S. Department of Education to verify data submitted by applicants to the Pell Grant program were analyzed by the General Accounting Office. The effects of carrying out the Department's policy or methodology, called "validation," on financial aid applicants and colleges were assessed. Costs of 1982-1983 validation on…

Florida's apprenticeship program was reviewed to assess its benefits and ability to meet state demands. The review was based on an analysis of the apprenticeship program's enrollment, costs, and course offerings and information about the employment and earning outcomes of program graduates. The review established that Florida's apprenticeship…

The return on investment (ROI) obtained by enterprises that invest in training was examined through case studies of seven Australian work organizations. The case study organizations included a government-owned transportation company, a privately owned company, a major nongovernmental charitable organization, a publicly listed corporation, and two…