This study examines why 51 schools declined an invitation to participate in a state-funded educator incentive initiative, the Texas Educator Excellence Grant (TEEG) program. Using data from an ongoing evaluation of the TEEG program conducted by the National Center on Performance Incentives (NCPI) under contract with Texas Education Agency, this…

The Alberta Initiative for School Improvement (AISI) is a province-wide partnership program whose goal is to improve student learning and performance by fostering initiatives that reflect the unique needs and circumstances of each school authority. It is currently ending its third cycle and ninth year of implementation. "The Colloquium on…

A total of 516 teachers in 25 school systems in Middle Tennessee responded to a questionnaire relating to their attitudes about the Career Ladder Program in Tennessee. The program delineates a five-step classification system: (1) probationary teachers; (2) apprentice teachers; (3) career level I teachers; (4) career level II teachers; and (5)…

This study was designed to determine the degree of use, level of client satisfaction of professional development and educational services, and to identify suggestions for improving services. Results from a mixed methodology approach indicated moderate to high levels of satisfaction in two program areas and moderate to high levels of…

This document describes the state-mandated Entry-Year Assistance Program established in Oklahoma in 1980. A teacher education graduate receives a one-year license rather than the standard five-year credential. When the beginning teacher is hired, an Entry-Year Assistance Committee (EYAC) is formed. This committee is composed of the building…

Initiated in November 1989, the Exploring 4-H program in Indiana is a child care program providing delivery models and a 21-topic curriculum for use in existing 4-H clubs, after-school day care programs, day camps, summer programs, and library programs in both school and non-school settings. To evaluate the program and the effect of the setting on…

This paper reviews the concept of performance funding (PF) in governmental and higher education budgeting at the state level, reports the results of a recent national study of state-level PF for higher education, and assesses the likelihood that PF will become a permanent fixture in most states' approaches to budgeting for higher education. The…

In an effort to conceptualize, plan, and conduct research activities to gather data for decision making concerning program improvement in vocational agriculture, a model for evaluating programs was developed by the Department of Agricultural and Extension Education, University of Florida. Through use of this model, six objectives to guide research…

A study was conducted to determine how parents perceive their involvement in planning the transition from school to work for their children with disabilities. A random sample of 240 parents in 9 school districts in Texas identified as having exemplary disabilities programs were contacted with a mailed survey, and 17 parents volunteered as a result…

A case study approach was used to evaluate the statewide reading improvement project in Louisiana called Special Plan Upgrading Reading (SPUR). SPUR emphasized a change agent approach by providing Technical Assistants and small stipends (approximately $5,000) to participating school districts. During the first two years of the evaluation,…