The Florida Association of Voluntary Agencies for Caribbean Action was formed by the state's Governor to increase cooperation with Caribbean nations and provide on-site technical assistance and training in health, agriculture, social services, and education. In 1996, the Association conducted a project with Muffles College, a junior college in…

This study compared the gifted program performance of 121 economically disadvantaged students identified by using the Research-Based Assessment Plan (RAP) and 166 students who were not economically disadvantaged identified through traditional identification methods. The study also compared the RAP-identified students' attitudes toward school to…

As the 21st century approaches, more students than ever need to be educated to higher levels so that they can: (1) compete successfully in the increasingly technological job market; (2) participate in the democratic system; and (3) develop strong moral and ethical values and the ability to reach their individual potentials. The new Program Quality…

Focusing on efforts at community colleges to demonstrate institutional effectiveness, this monograph presents findings from a survey of 147 colleges regarding accountability practices and showcases seven colleges with effective accountability programs. The first chapter, "Focusing on the Problem: Accountability and Effectiveness in the Community…

For a number of years it has been suggested that distance education is a natural extension of existing teaching methods that includes learners who are separated from the instructor by time or distance. This paper takes an alternative look at distance-education research and evaluation and proposes an evaluation model built on that view. That…

A project was undertaken at a suburban community college to develop a Classroom Assessment Technique (CAT) that would enable parent education teachers to determine what parents learned from the lecture/discussion component of the program and whether or not the parents implemented the lessons learned. The CAT was used over a period of 6 weeks by…

This source book focuses on helping people with autism manage their behavior by analyzing the learning environment and the purpose of the behavior and then teaching new skills and behaviors. Introductory material covers the approach's philosophy and the importance of a longitudinal program plan. A section on creating a physical environment for…

This report was prepared to provide information on school evaluation practices to the education community and the general public. It is intended to assist individuals in selecting school evaluation models that assess the dimensions and components of a school that are considered most relevant and most related to school improvement. Work on the…

Claiming that observation is the first and most authentic tool for assessing young children's learning and development, this book advises educators of young children how to improve observation skills by recording children's growth and development. The book also serves as a tool to evaluate and improve early childhood programs. Specific benefits of…

This guide provides practical and specific step-by-step methods for developing and using curriculum-based assessment (CBA) in an educational setting. It is organized into six basic skills chapters. Chapter 1, "Assessment: An Overview" (Carroll J. Jones), includes the basic reasons for assessment and types of special education assessment, as well…

Dilemmas emerged in the evaluation of a school improvement project that required evaluators to confront merging varied and often conflicting perspectives, sources of data, understandings of their roles as evaluators, the eventual use of the data, and the purpose of the educational reform effort. Selected examples are presented from the evaluation…

The use of young children's art work in the assessment of reading readiness was studied through a qualitative research design. Subjects were 12 transitional-first-grade students from an elementary school, each of whom was treated as a case study. Artwork was collected from each child each month of the school year and reading levels were recorded.…

Use of complementarity as a deliberate and necessary program evaluation strategy is discussed. Quantitative and qualitative approaches are viewed as complementary and can be integrated into a single study. The synergy that results from using complementary methods in a single study seems to enhance understanding and interpretation. A review of the…

This primer is designed to provide a step-by-step guide for state policymakers and state agency officials interested in assessing the literacy skills of the people of their state. Chapter 1 describes the importance of assessing the literacy skills in each state. Literacy is discussed as an economic necessity, a requirement for a healthy democracy,…

Students with disabilities have been excluded to an unreasonable extent from large-scale assessment programs at the national, state, and local levels. One implication of this exclusion practice is that students who are left out of assessments tend not to be considered during reform efforts. Another implication is that estimates of performance are…