Programs for adolescents with severe behavior disorders (BD) in Illinois are examined in terms of existing psychoeducational models of BD programs. Research is reviewed on the definition and etiology of BD, and the historical and theoretical background of educational treatment for this group is offered (including a description of several models…

A program evaluation unit was established in the Louisiana Department of Education. A unit capable of measuring and assuring the effectiveness of several programs and projects either operating or proposed was desired. The Department responded to requests to implement program evaluations. Many requests were from program administrators who needed…

Assessment and evaluation can be important tools in improving the effectiveness and quality of programs, especially criminal justice programs, if they are integrated into the plans and designs of strategies instead of being added later. An evaluation systems approach to program development is needed to ensure that effectiveness and efficiency are…

The implications of the lessons learned through an evaluability assessment (EA) of the Title II Basic Skills Improvement Program (BSIP) for State Education Agency (SEA) support of model demonstration programs are discussed. The purposes, methodology and uses of the EA process are presented. Also included is a discussion of the details of the…

According to a new law, state testing in California should be directed toward broad program evaluation rather than the diagnostic assessment of individual students which should be the responsibility of each local district. The data from the state testing program is used primarily for public information and to facilitate decision making at the…

Some observations are presented on a social indicators approach to statewide educational assessment. The context of the observations is the Oregon Department of Education model for educational planning. Much of what is said can also be applied to educational planning and program evaluation at the federal level or in large school systems. For the…

The Beginning Teacher Assistance Program (BTAP) was piloted in the state of Washington during the 1985-86 school year. Each of 89 beginning teachers was assigned a mentor teacher to provide continuing and sustained support during the school year. A survey of beginning teachers, mentors, and school principals at the end of the school year yielded…

Examples from the evaluation of a program in which data collection systems were developed jointly by the program's staff and evaluators are described. The Louisiana SPUR (Special Plan Upgrading Reading) Project was evaluated by the Louisiana Department of Education Bureau of Evaluation. SPUR involves 63 of the state's 66 public school systems and…

This paper examines the effect of a formal evaluation process upon educational change--specifically, the adoption of innovative reading programs and practices--at different organizational levels of implementation. Because of the size of the project (62 school systems, 142 designated schools, three sets of categorical funded projects), the…

A plan has been initiated in Georgia to ensure that project directors and evaluators are cognizant of and organized to meet criteria specified in the Identification, Validation, and Dissemination (IVD) guidelines. The evaluation/validation process involves eight steps: (1) evaluator training, (2) proposal screening, (3) critique of evaluation…

That teachers should be held accountable for conducting the best possible instructional processes, not for guaranteeing learning, is the view of the National Education Association (NEA). Because of the inadequate nature of tests of student achievement, the diverse nature of student populations, and the various conditions affecting learning, the…

In April 1976, 95 educational program evaluators were asked the question, "What do you think will be the relationship between the new collective bargaining law (SB160) and the operation and evaluation of A-127 (state and federally funded) education programs?" Working in small groups, participants accomplished the following: (1) They…

The purpose of this phase of the evaluation of the Mississippi Kindergarten Program (MKP) was to determine if 1987-88 kindergarten students made significant progress toward the attainment of motor skills normally performed by 4-, 5-, and 6-year-old children. A secondary purpose was to determine if the program enhanced physical growth among…

The report highlights evaluations from the 1979-80 school year of 18 deaf/blind programs in Texas. Two previous years' findings are noted. Analysis of teacher and administrator questionnaires indicated an increase in the trend toward more uniform structuring of individualized education programs (IEPs). Programs were not as successful as the…

Through joint planning with a number of school districts and the Region X Title I Technical Assistance Center, and with the help of a Title I Refinement grant, Alaska has developed a system of data storage and retrieval using microcomputers that assists small school districts in the evaluation and reporting of their Title I programs. Although this…