Background: Institutional theorists suggest environmental stakeholders in the "organizational field" have a symbiotic relationship with governing agencies, leading to institutional isomorphism. Hence state policy makers copy the work of their colleagues across states to create a sense of legitimacy, certainty, and professionalization…

The purpose of this document is to establish the minimum standards for approval of programs which meet the requirements of the Standards of Accreditation adopted by the State Board of Education February 22, 1984, and have been effective since June 1, 1987. Included are guidelines, which enable school districts to: (1) Establish equitable criteria…

This study examined a model of assessment that could be applied nationally for Year Twelve Vocational Education and Training (VET) subjects and which could yield both a differentiating score and recognition of competence. More than fifty colleges across all states and territories of Australia field-tested the approach over one school year. Results…

Issues pertaining to the documentation of positive outcomes for severely handicapped learners as a function of their educational programs are addressed, and the value of the general evaluative concept of educational validity is emphasized. Issues related to the current overreliance on the single-subject experimental model are also discussed. (SEW)

This letter reports on a research study in which five students (initially identified as severely mentally retarded and/or autistic) were tested with and without the use of facilitated communication while facilitators were prevented from hearing the test questions. Positive results for four of the students raise issues about accurate educational…

A study was conducted to validate the Oklahoma Curriculum & Instructional Materials Center's (CIMC) Distributive Education II curriculum manual. Participating teachers included sixteen teachers who attended a workshop for training in the use of the curriculum. Arrangements were made to obtain pretest and posttest results from their students on…

In the San Jose/Evergreen Community College District in California, prerequisite levels have been established for almost all courses offered, though students may insist on taking classes above their prerequisite level. In an effort to validate the district's prerequisite system, a study was conducted comparing academic success rates of students…

Evaluation for a one-year period (1976-77) was conducted of the St. Charles Parish Schools (Louisiana) adaptation of the Experience Based Career Education (EBCE) prototype developed by Research for Better Schools, Inc. The EBCE program provided secondary school students with cognitive skills, career experiences, and personal perspectives which aid…

The Conecuh County, Alabama, Experienced Based Career Education (EBCE) project, based on the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory (NWREL) model, was evaluated for the period of October 1, 1976 to September 30, 1977. Assessment instruments gathered data in the areas of basic skills, career development skills, and life skills from twenty-three…

With greater demands being placed on postsecondary education as employers report that graduates have inadequate skills, interest has been generated in assessing student academic achievement in reliable and valid ways. A descriptive case study was used to outline the process that has been developed to identify and implement program outcomes for 55…

An evaluation was conducted on the first year operations of the three-year Parkway, Missouri, Experienced Based Career Education (EBCE) program, which offered a one-year alternative educational experience for selected grade 11 and 12 students. The ten overall program goals evaluated follow those developed by the Northwest Regional Educational…

A third party evaluation was conducted of the first phase, 1976-77, of the three-year Appalachian Maryland Experienced Based Career Education Project (EBCE). During this year, the project provided combined learning activities outside and within the classroom for twenty-four twelfth grade students. These experimental students and twenty-three…

An evaluation of the Experience Based Career Education (EBCE) Program of the District of Columbia Public Schools (DCEBCE) for summer, 1977, was conducted to provide preliminary information for the three-year program effort to use in program planning and decision making for the 1977-78 school year. DCEBCE was evaluated using the Context, Input,…

An evaluation was conducted of the Fayette County, Kentucky, implementation of the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory Experience Based Career Education (NWREL/EBCE) program model, which allowed for the provision of community educational experiences for eleventh and twelfth grade students. Individualized learning plans served as a basis for…

A three-year (1974-77) K-14 Career Based Curriculum (CBC) project was conducted in Union County, North Carolina, to implement career education concepts into four elementary schools, two middle schools, and four senior high schools. During the third year of the project, a career center serving the secondary schools and the community was opened. The…