In this commentary, we discuss three types of data manipulations that can occur within teacher evaluation methods: artificial inflation, artificial deflation, and artificial conflation. These types of manipulation are more popularly known in the education profession as instances of Campbell's Law (1976), which states that the higher the…

Effective, efficient, and sustainable ID/DD organizations: are they possible in today's world of dwindling resources and mounting demands for more and better services? Yes--with the practical tools and strategies in this lifeline for ID/DD leaders. Developed by two of the most trusted authorities in the disability field, this innovative business…

The assessment of student learning outcomes (SLOs) is a curricular activity that can be both beneficial and productive. Faculty who engage in SLO development and assessment can acquire concrete evidence upon which to base the collegial review of their programs and the improvement and enhancement of student learning both in individual classes and…

This guide is designed to help districts and schools evaluate reform efforts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including School Improvement Grants. It includes practical, how-to tips for conducting program evaluations, whether one takes a "do-it-yourself" approach or seeks outside assistance to evaluate reform…

How do the best administrators find out how to improve their schools? They actively engage the people who work and study there. In "From Questions to Actions: Using Questionnaire Data for Continuous School Improvement," data experts Victoria L. Bernhardt and Bradley J. Geise explain how to collect and analyze data with an eye toward positive…

Secondary school administrators are increasingly being charged with the responsibility for effectively evaluating their personnel, educational programs, and services. The evaluation conference, if carefully planned and effectively conducted, can be of great benefit to the staff, the school, and the students. (Editor)

The purpose of this guide is three-fold: a) to provide administrators and teachers with an awareness of the need for a pupil assessment system geared to the curricula of the school, b) to provide direction and resource information to school personnel in developing a pupil assessment system, and c) to provide a schema which will actively involve…

Five definitions of evaluation are considered: (1) evaluation as measurement; (2) evaluation as the process used to determine how well prespecified objectives have been achieved in measurable performance; (3) evaluation as professional judgement; (4) evaluation as public opinion; and (5) evaluation as tax dollars. The advantages and disadvantages…

More college and universities are being subject to audit by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). When an institution is selected for audit, it will be notified, probably in writing, and contacted by a representative of the IRS, who will make arrangements for a preliminary visit to discuss the procedures to be followed. Prior to the first meeting…

This booklet deals with the practical steps of educational evaluation: who should negotiate the contract? Who initiates evaluation? What are "goals process" and "parts process" and how are they matched? What are the steps in putting the process of evaluation into operation? What are the criteria for assessing observational techniques? What data…

Author stresses the principal's role in developing and writing objectives for a school's program, as well as his relationship to others in the organization. (Editor)

Requirements for the effective performance of an administrative team are cooperative planning, coordinated implementation, and cooperative evaluation. (Author/MLF)

This paper reports on work by an International Reading Association (IRA) committee to develop criteria--for use in judging the superiority of a particular reading program--that may be used by school personnel in the interpretation of evaluation reports. The paper outlines (1) the background of the project, (2) project activities, (3) anticipated…

The California State Board of Education guidelines for school districts in developing procedures for evaluating certificated personnel are presented. Following a description of the development of local guidelines, the development of specific evaluation procedures is given--job descriptions-employee classifications, evaluator-evaluatee…

The objective of this paper is to identify the components of an assessment model that are applicable to the new institutions in higher education that are identifying themselves as being innovative or nontraditional. The emphasis is on the new institutions for several reasons. First, the new institutions are under greater pressure to justify their…