This guide is intended to assist individual bilingual vocational training projects improve their approach to program evaluation. The guide presents an overall framework to be used by local project staff and evaluators to establish the scope of evaluation and give direction in meeting local evaluation needs. The guide does not provide a…

This participant's handbook for a workshop on selecting evaluation designs for bilingual programs presents group activities to facilitate learning about the selection process. The objectives of the workshop are to (1) identify the implied comparisons associated with frequently encountered evaluation questions, (2) select the most appropriate…

A discussion of the role of second language proficiency assessment in the evaluation of language programs argues that for four reasons, the use of proficiency is inappropriate as a central element in evaluation. The reasons are: (1) the construct of proficiency has not been operationalized in a way that enables it to be used usefully; (2)…

Areas of process evaluation which are crucial but often overlooked in determining exemplary bilingual education programs are presented. The process evaluation components discussed are: (1) needs assessment; (2) program planning; (3) commitment and competencies of staff; (4) nature and appropriateness of instruction and curriculum; (5) pupil…

This leader's manual for a workshop on planning bilingual student assessment describes the workshop, presents information necessary to provide instruction leading to workshop exercises, and provides step-by-step instructions for conducting the workshop. The workshop leader should become familiar with this manual as well as with the workshop text…

This participant's handbook is designed to be used in conjunction with a workshop for planning bilingual student assessment. The following materials are included: (1) simulation materials, including descriptions of simulated programs, tests, test manuals, and printouts; (2) checklists, diagrams, and charts illustrating important points of the…

This bilingual program quality review instrument is intended as a guide for school district personnel to design and improve bilingual education programs. It can be used for the following purposes: as an on-site review instrument to provide formative evaluation input about language-minority group programs; as a device for collecting information at…

The nature of educational accountability, seen as an organized, systematized process of self-evaluation, and a review of available standardized tests for foreign language programs are examined in this paper. Teacher accountability is seen to rely exclusively on the judgement of the teacher and administration within the school itself. The author…

The report summarizes results of an evaluative study of selected state-funded elementary and secondary school programs for less commonly taught languages (LCTLs) in California. Fourteen projects at 19 school sites received a maximum of 4 years of funding to offer instruction in Japanese, Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese), Korean, and Russian. The…

This book is intended to be a sustained exposition of the principles, practices and standards of comparative literature. After a discussion of the origins, definitions and dimensions of the discipline, three chapters address questions of establishing and maintaining a department: staffing, budgeting, selecting students, setting up a curriculum,…

Papers on aspects of second language program evaluation include the following: "The Role of Language Testing in Language Program Evaluation" (Adrian Palmer); "Defining an Appropriate Role for Language Tests in Intensive English Language Programs" (Margaret Des Brisay, Doreen Ready); "Principles and Practice in an…

The Texas framework for modern and classical language programs in the elementary and secondary schools is intended to (1) establish a philosophy for a proficiency-based sequential language program; (2) outline the overall language program as specified in state rules and legislative mandates; and (3) describe expected student proficiency levels and…