The area of teachers' continuing professional development (CPD) is of growing interest internationally. However, while an increasing range of literature focuses on particular aspects of CPD, there is a paucity of literature addressing the spectrum of CPD models in a comparative manner. This article therefore considers a wide range of international…

Following Messick's definition of validity as a multi-faceted construct that includes contextual, substantive, structural, generalizable, external, and consequential dimensions, this study examined an established directed self-placement (DSP) system that had been functioning for ten years at a large university. The goal was to determine the extent…

Examines the interrelationship between the National Diffusion Network and the Office of Career Education. Discusses initial collaborative efforts (fiscal year 1979), further efforts (fiscal year 1980), and plans for the future. (CT)

An adult basic education evaluation design should be directly related to realistic and assessable process and outcome objectives of a project. The design should be established early, and baseline data should be obtained prior to, or at least concurrent with, initiating the delivery of services. (CT)

HOSTS, "Helping One Student To Succeed," is a nationally-validated Chapter I program adopted by 24 schools in the Portland School District. It was designed to help low performers learn to read by providing individualized instruction on a one-to-one basis through the use of trained volunteer tutors. The HOSTS curriculum is designed as a…

The report provides an analysis of the impact of the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP) during the past decade. Following an executive summary, Chapter 1 provides an historical overview of the HCEEP and information on previous evaluations of the program. The second chapter describes the study's work scope and methodological…

Evaluation of early childhood special education programs are constrained by the nature of the population served, the impossibility of random assignment, the absence of control groups, and the absence of normed standardized measures. This paper critically examines the components of evaluations which have overcome these difficulties and highlights…

The District Facilitator Project (DFP) works through the National Diffusion Network (NDN) to assist local schools in improving their programs by linking them with exemplary projects from around the country. Evaluation of the project in operation in the District of Columbia public schools in 1982-83 showed that all the project's objectives were…

In 1994, Congress directed the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, U.S. Department of Education, to establish panels to evaluate educational programs and recommend to the Secretary of Education those programs that should be designated as exemplary or promising. The purpose of these panels was and is to provide practitioners,…

During the 1979-80 school year, the Talents Unlimited (TU) program (validated by the Joint Dissemination Review Panel) for talented students in grades 1 through 6 was evaluated by nine adopting school systems. Five talent areas were addressed: communication, forecasting, decision making, productive thinking, and planning. Data were analyzed for…

In order to determine how much objective evidence exists regarding the effectiveness of career education programs in U.S. schools, American Institutes for Research in Behavioral Sciences (AIR) conducted a comprehensive, national search for well-evaluated activities. The initial nominations of 394 programs were received from state career education…

The De Anza Reading Center is a California Demonstration Program for intensive instruction in reading at the junior high school level that was originally modeled after the successful program developed at Santa Barbara Junior High School. Operating since January of 1973, each project group receives instruction in the Reading Center for two…

The report presents detailed descriptions of 12 exemplary secondary vocational education programs for students with special needs. Programs were selected by a panel of experts from 250 nominated projects and programs, of whom 96 completed a lengthy questionnaire. Site visits were made to each of the 12 finalists. Criteria for selection included…

The report presents detailed descriptions of 10 secondary vocational education programs selected as exemplifying creative approaches to serving the needs of students with special needs. Programs were selected by a panel of experts from among 250 nominees, of whom 96 completed a lengthy questionnaire. Site visits were made to each program. Criteria…

This report reports activities of the Regional Information Exchange (RIE) program under the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research's Knowledge Dissemination and Utilization Program. An overview compares the RIE program with a National Diffusion Network unit--the Joint Dissemination Review Panel, which also focuses on…