The question for this brief is whether education leaders can use value-added measures as tools for improving schooling and, if so, how to do this. Districts, states, and schools can, at least in theory, generate gains in educational outcomes for students using value-added measures in three ways: creating information on effective programs, making…

In October 2014, The National Center for Education Research (NCER) and the National Center for Special Education Research (NCSER), in the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) at the U.S. Department of Education, convened a Technical Working Group (TWG). The purpose of this TWG meeting was to discuss critical education problems and issues on which…

A statewide pilot study of career education needs was conducted by surveying 667 Florida educators who have been actively involved in career education. The 354 respondents rated the actual attainment and the desired priority of the students needs, the need for improving the program needs, and other information both general and specific to career…

This paper reviews the four research and development (R&D) analyses that were presented as a rationale for the National Institute of Education's (NIE) 1973 agenda. Three of the chapters describe (1) the consensus cncerning goals, (2) the manner in which the different analyses move from goals to a list of programs, and (3) the need for more…

Conducted to determine priority areas for program improvement activities in Alabama's vocational education system, the specific objectives of this study were to develop a list of areas that are in need of vocational education research and that should be addressed through exemplary programs; develop a list of needs for curriculum development…

One of the greatest challenges that community colleges face in their efforts to increase graduation rates is improving the success of students in their developmental, or remedial, education programs--the courses that students without adequate academic preparation must take before they can enroll in courses for college credit. Emphasizing results…

A Delphi study was conducted among personnel of the Oklahoma Research Coordinating Unit (RCU) to determine their priorities for long-term research in vocational education. Staff in Supportive Services were grouped together, while staff in the Occupational Division, Area Schools Division, Training for Industry Programs Section, and Productivity…

A survey of Adult Basic Education (ABE) students attending class at seventeen learning centers in St. Louis, Missouri, was done to determine if the ABE teaching staff were meeting the felt needs (objectives) of the students. In general, it was found that the program staff has been successful in identifying and meeting the needs of the individual…

This document describes and presents the results of a project whose general purpose was to field test a set of activities that could upgrade the quality and effectiveness of research and evaluation activities in large urban school districts. Three aspects of this problem were addressed: The need for better conceptual models for evaluation in the…

Because vocational researchers and practitioners have not been able to reach a consensus concerning criteria for judging excellence in vocational education and have been unable to agree on exactly which factors lead to successful programs, research in vocational education has had limited impact on improving practice. Two sets of research findings…

Half of this paper is the text of a lecture, based on the author's involvement in a study by the Committee on Vocational Education Research and Development (R & D). Focus is on the summary of the study's recommendations in three areas: (1) Administration of vocational education R & D, (2) the content of vocational education R & D, and (3) the…

During its third year of operation, the National Council on the Handicapped continued to develop priorities for the National Institute of Handicapped Research (NIHR) and worked to identify all research on disabilities and handicaps that is currently underway. In addition, the council's Committee on Services undertook a review and assessment of…

A study was done to (1) assess the level and extent of the current needs of Utah's cooperative education (CE) program coordinators and (2) assemble alternative solutions to facilitate planning and action intended to meet these needs. A three-step data collection process was employed to determine the principal needs. Program coordinators, students,…

The purpose of the study was (1) to develop an accurate and comprehensive listing of the major goals and specific needs in large city vocational education programs using input from vocational education program practitioners and a literature review, (2) to determine the relative national priority for meeting these goals and needs as viewed by urban…

This study examined current initiatives related to adult literacy in Canada. A literature search, interviews with government personnel, telephone surveys, faxed questionnaires, and interviews with key individuals were used to assess four kinds of initiatives (teaching/learning opportunities, support to programs, policy development, and…