This article presents an overview of the human capital approach to human development and how it has been used for evaluating early education programs. It critiques the human capital approach by considering how its focus on measurable returns on economic investments limits an understanding of the full and complex contribution of early education to…

Considers the requirements of the Children Act (1989) in Great Britain and the use of "Looking After Children" materials in assessing the progress of children in out-of-home care. Demonstrates how simple indicators in the key areas of needs, objectives, services, and outcomes can be used to develop answers to complex questions regarding…

Presents two perspectives bearing on the concept of social competence, the motivational and the socio-cultural; the author was a member of a panel of black experts convened to review, from a black perspective, the lists of outcomes and measures which Rand plans to use to evaluate Head Start. (JM)

This collection of 3 papers summarizes the current thinking of those involved in the Head Start Program Effects Measurement Project regarding selected issues in the assessment of Head Start program effects on children's development. The first paper describes the project panelists' current approaches to the selection of measurement dimensions.…

It was the contention of the Head Start/State Preschool Program of the Greater Los Angeles Community Action Agency (GLACAA) that a self-evaluation would not be workable or effective unless it was a joint process involving delegate agency staff, parents and central administration staff in all phases. The first phase of the self evaluation process…

Measures of quality are now in widespread use across states as part of quality improvement initiatives. For example, many states are currently using global measures of quality that were first developed for research and practice purposes (such as the Environmental Rating Scales) in their Quality Rating Systems (QRSs). Although global quality…

Describes an assessment process and its use in planning early childhood programs. Information from parents and from observations of children was used to develop a comprehensive assessment of each child. The assessment was used to note the needs and interests of the children and extend their learning experiences. (SH)

This response to a previous article comparing guidelines for developmentally appropriate practice in the fields of early childhood education and early intervention/special education stresses the importance of individualizing application of principles and the need to look beyond effectiveness and efficiency as dimensions for evaluating practice.…

This report contains a partial summary of the findings and recommendations resulting from research of the Child Development Associate (CDA) Training Program performed by the National Planning Association (NPA). A brief overview of the following areas is presented: (1) demand and supply of trained personnel in child development programs; (2) issues…

Recognizing the need to support the work of educators and others in evaluating the quality of early childhood programs, this toolkit provides a framework for continuous program improvement based on a 6-phase planning process focused on assessing childrens progress and on analyzing the quality of teaching and organizational effectiveness. The guide…

Ways to approach the evaluation of South Carolina's Parent Education Program are examined. The program's purpose is to improve children's school success by strengthening the family, particularly during the children's first 5 years. Program goals are to: (1) demonstrate effective methods of parent training and support that will enable parents to…

Kaleidoscope is an innovative approach to an arts-based early childhood program, combining visual arts, music, dance and language arts. The program's principal goal is to promote the learning and development of low-income, inner-city children who are attending preschool and kindergarten. Kaleidoscope's three objectives are: (1) to provide children…

The Classroom Activity Files and Day Care and Home Learning Activities Files contain approximately 900 learning activites each, and were designed to promote competencies in children at different developmental ages. Twelve Head Start, kindergarten and preschool programs participated in a field study to evaluate the usability, content, and…

As part of the 1999 comprehensive review of the education system in Hong Kong, the Education Department introduced a quality assurance framework in local kindergartens. The framework comprises two components: self-evaluation and external monitoring. This guide presents performance indicators for use as evaluation criteria with reference to the…

Reflecting contemporary research and widely held beliefs about how children grow, develop, and learn, this publication describes standards for child development programs for preschool and school-age children. The text is divided into three main sections which discuss background material, program components, and the program quality review process.…