In the present climate of public accountability, there is increasing demand to show "what works" and what return is gained for the public from investments to improve communities. This increasing demand for accountability is being met with growing confidence in the field of philanthropy during the past 10 years that the impact or effectiveness of…

If it takes a village to raise a child, it takes a strong network of committed colleagues to launch an initiative like "SENSE." From its conception in fall 2006 to the first national administration in fall 2009, the Survey of Entering Student Engagement ("SENSE") has been supported by key individuals and groups, without whom there would have been…

Designed for use in programs implemented under the mandate of the Youth Employment and Demonstration Projects Act (YEDPA) of 1976, this guide includes guidelines and models for conducting the evaluation, research, and demonstration efforts that local youth staff are expected to carry on in their own local YEDPA programs. The evaluation, research,…

Seven Wisconsin school districts formed a consortium to improve district level implementation of career education, K-12. Each district developed assessment and/or evaluation instruments to meet their specific needs, and circulated these instruments among all seven districts for review and feedback. After revision and field testing, these…

Ensuring that all Arizona children receive the high-quality education they deserve requires an effective teacher in every classroom along with school and district leadership that is focused on raising student achievement. Arizona's educators, from the classroom teacher to the district superintendent, are the most important component of the state's…

The paper discusses the major issues connected with the accreditation procedures in higher education system in the U.S. The questions raised are as follows: what are the reliable and credible indicators of quality instruction that could be measured in the process of accreditation of higher education institutions? How does greater transparency in…

Background/Context: Although the importance of facilitating transfer from community colleges to 4-year institutions is almost universally accepted, there is little consensus on how to measure transfer success or evaluate policies aimed at assisting students in making this educational transition. Despite the increasing attention on transfer in…

Evaluation conducted during the 1975-76 school year of the Experience-Based Career Education (EBCE) program at Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) is reported, focusing on the evaluation findings of the EBCE demonstration project in Tigard, Oregon called Community Experiences for Career Education, (CE)2, and the five NWREL EBCE pilot…

A case study approach was used to evaluate the statewide reading improvement project in Louisiana called Special Plan Upgrading Reading (SPUR). SPUR emphasized a change agent approach by providing Technical Assistants and small stipends (approximately $5,000) to participating school districts. During the first two years of the evaluation,…

The purpose of this paper is to provide the background and objectives of an evaluation study of Upward Bound (UB), a nationwide program to help selected low income high school students prepare for and enter post secondary education. The primary aim of the study is to evaluate the accomplishment of two of the program's major objectives, to increase…

On February 3, 2003, the Bush Administration unveiled its request to cut funding for the 21st Century Community Learning Centers program by 40 percent in fiscal year 2004. This date also marked the administration's release of When Schools Stay Open Late: The National Evaluation of the 21st-Century Learning Centers Program, First Year Findings, the…

This guide aims to help rehabilitation facilities develop effective self-evaluation systems to improve quality assurance for supported employment. The guide proposes that quality be measured by emphasizing direct outcomes that meet consumers' specified needs and concerns in terms of decision making, determination of quality, and access to choice.…

This report presents results of the management reviews of 20 California high school vocational systems which utilized the District Review of Vocational Education (DROVE) process, a consultant-directed self-study that also involves a vertification study conducted by a visiting team made up of nonvocational educators. (Results of the topical…

One of seven career education programs chosen for nationwide dissemination by the Department of Health, Education, and Welfare's Joint Dissemination Review Panel (JDRP), a Project Equality is being conducted for grades K-6 in Seattle, Washington. For the years 1973-78, it received both federal and state funding. Intended to reduce sex-role…

Several of the available methods of program evaluation are discussed, with emphasis on adult basic education projects. The following evaluation models are presented: intuitive judgment, cost/benefit analysis, experimental research, and a synthetic approach which includes planning, action, and evaluation. The author also presents his Project…