These twelve issues (3 years) of the newsletter of the National Center for the Dissemination of Disability Research (NCDDR) present articles summarizing outcomes of National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) research projects. Articles from Volume 1 include: "What Are the True Outcomes of Research"; "Self…

This paper describes the implementation and support of a data-driven decision-making evaluation system developed by the San Francisco (California) school district to assess programs within the district aimed at improving achievement for students of color, especially African American and Latino students. In 1982, a Consent Decree was established to…

This document provides complete collections of columns from the journal "Assessment Update" for the past 10 years. By-lined columns from Trudy W. Banta, Editor, include articles on: (1) encouraging faculty involvement in assessment; (2) the growing variety of assessment methods; (3) assessment in response to external pressures: performance funding…

California has developed an alternative accountability system for schools with fewer than 100 students, alternative schools of various kinds, community day schools, and other schools under the jurisdiction of a county board of education or a county superintendent of schools. This document is a guide to assist local administrators in completing the…

Given the competition for limited resources at all levels of funding for correctional education coupled with public sentiment that swings between punishment of offenders and their rehabilitation, correctional education data at the program level have become more important than ever. This handbook explores the use of data in correctional education…

Ohio's Model Competency-Based Science Program is designed to provide direction for school districts in developing local competency-based science education programs. The model is designed to be used to guide the development of district curriculum. The ultimate purpose of Ohio's Model Competency-Based Science Program is to move Ohio towards the…

This document is a guide developed for the Dallas Independent School District's (DISD's) Multiple Careers Magnet Center, which provides special education students with training in standards of work performance and specific occupational skills for successful transition to community life and employment. The document also provides information for…

As computer aided instruction (CAI) and distance learning become more popular, a model for easily evaluating these teaching methods must be developed, one which will enable replication of the study each year. This paper discusses the results of a study using existing dependent and independent variables to evaluate CAI for developmental reading…

In June 2003 the Maine Department of Education published the "Local Assessment System (LAS) Guide: Principles and Criteria for the Adoption of Local Assessment Systems." This LAS Guide provides school systems with the criteria and rules necessary to comply with Chapter 127 while also providing flexibility for local decisions. The intent…

To use a block schedule or a traditional schedule? Which structure will produce the best and highest achievement rates for students? The research is mixed on this due to numerous variables such as: (1) socioeconomic levels; (2) academic levels; (3) length of time a given schedule has been in operation; (4) strategies being used in the classrooms;…

Examines the move for, and the nature of, competency based teacher education which has emerged as a tentative response to the demand for more accountability in teacher education. A prospective teacher does not exit from a competency based preparation program unless he is able to demonstrate that he has mastered all its publicly stated objectives…

Basic and methodological considerations, organizational context of social action programs affect the introduction, execution, and utilization of evaluative research. Tensions between administrators and evaluators, and client activism are two of the problems discussed. (VW)