A review of research on vocational rehabilitation of the mentally retarded shows that many programs have been successful in placing clients. Evaluation methods are reviewed and vocational training methods in different states are described. Research shows that relevant evaluation, training, and placement can succeed. (JAC)

In one federally funded program, the third-party evaluator was under contract with the program evaluated and not the federal funding agency. The social structure of this arrangement has implications for information utilization. (Available from: Jossey-Bass, Inc., 433 California St., San Francisco, CA 94104, single issue, $6.95.) (Author/GDC)

A needs assessment is an effective way to evaluate the effects of ongoing guidance program activities. It provides information to assist in the development and implementation of school counseling and guidance programs that meet the various needs of students, teachers, and parents. A seven-step procedure is presented. (Author)

A number of ways in which evaluations may be biased are illustrated: (1) policy and political purposes for evaluations; (2) sources of policy or political bias prior to evaluation activities; (3) limitations and biases within the evaluation itself; and (4) utilization of evaluation information in the policy process. (Author/GK)

Describes the Teacher Performance Assessment Instruments, used to analyze teaching competencies essential to effective teaching. In all data analysis the supervising teachers and pupils consistently rated student teachers higher than the data collectors. Other teacher preparatory programs should focus on assessing their programs through a modified…

This article provides background on several types of nontraditional higher education programs, particularly the external degree programs. The program effectiveness and related costs strategy developed by Empire State College and adapted to several other institutions are reviewed. (JMF)

This article comments on the previous article (Holburn, 2002), that argues misapplied approaches of person-centered planning can be remedied through scientific practices. It cautions against testing person-centered planning like a drug to establish its causal power and stresses person-centered planning as a way to improve the odds that change will…

This article provides a template to assist policymakers in developing and refining reliable large-scale alternate assessments for students with significant disabilities unable to participate in general state and district assessments. It also discusses Kentucky's 10-year experience with its alternate assessment and experiences of other states…

A teacher education program which merged elementary and special education into one major was evaluated using naturalistic inquiry methodology. A discussion is presented on the methodology, the process, the major findings, and implications for evaluation of teacher education programs. (JD)

A statistical model is presented for evaluating the effectiveness of the Demerit Points System of Victoria (Australia) in reducing traffic offenses. Estimates of the mean waiting time between offenses were made by maximum likelihood methods. Empirical results with 46,982 drivers--participants in a Driver Improvement Program--support the system's…

Discusses the importance of assessing instructional programs by looking objectively at the interrelated factors of student performance, teacher performance, and program effectiveness to determine their relationship to the achievement of goals. Suggests methods that teachers can use to assess whether social studies activities and materials have…

This article summarizes the evaluation of a university-based summer music festival and academic program sponsored by a school of music and held in a semi-remote community (Starret) in the Colorado Rocky Mountains. Strategies employed by the evaluation team assessed public relations, faculty and student development, and cultural awareness. (TJH)

A method of evaluating a new teacher education program using self-reflection on the part of students, faculty, and representatives of the educational system and the broader community is outlined. One such participatory evaluation effort is then assessed by examining some dilemmas that arose during the evaluation process. (MSE)

A multilevel analysis strategy developed by Leigh Burstein termed slopes-as-outcomes provides a means to address questions concerning equity in educational research. This potential strategy for studying differences in program implementation relates to differences in program effectiveness across sites. (SLD)

The institutional self-study required by a university hospital's reaccreditation process is explored, with a discussion of benefits and costs. A reaction by C. F. Waltz and A. Belcher reaffirms the value of reaccreditation studies and discusses ways of minimizing costs without compromising comprehensiveness and utility of results. (SLD)