Although focus groups continue to gain popularity in marketing and social science research, their use in program evaluation has been limited. Here we demonstrate how focus groups can benefit evaluators, program staff, policy makers and administrators by providing an in-depth understanding of program effectiveness from the perspective of…

Complete your review of where science education in the U.S. is heading with this wide-ranging look at secondary-level science curriculum, instruction, and assessment. Through lively examples of classroom practice, interviews with award-winning science teachers and science education experts, and a thorough review of the research, discover how…

Increased focus on assessment of student learning in the accreditation of higher education institutions offers new, challenging opportunities for institutional researchers. This article explores how institutional researchers can maximize these opportunities by offering methodological guidance in the assessment process and by designing new studies…

Professional school counselors are educational leaders with training and expertise to address the mental health concerns of students. Unfortunately, work conditions at some schools can create barriers to the delivery of effective mental health services. This article presents a case of one rural, diverse high school that transformed its school…

The intersection of No Child Left Behind (2002) and the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) made it necessary for educators to examine achievement trends within their schools and implement a Response to Intervention (RTI) program. This study examines the achievement trends in one school district since its…

Sanger Unified School District in California's Central Valley had been named one of the worst 98 school districts in California. It was not only one of the worst-performing districts in a state with 1,042 districts, but it also had been flagged as one of the first to be named a program improvement district under No Child Left Behind. In this…

The California Department of Education awarded Amnesty Education Program funds to service providers to serve immigrant adults needing to fulfill legalization requirements by obtaining a Certificate of Satisfactory Pursuit, and to make available to immigrant adults education and training that would enable them to succeed in school and become more…

A Swedish study examined student and teacher perceptions regarding career education (CE) and working life orientation in Sweden's lower secondary schools. Twenty-seven pupils and a total of 30 school professionals (13 teachers, 8 career teachers, 3 school welfare officers, and 6 head teachers) from 3 lower secondary schools were interviewed. The…

The Texas Education Agency identified the need to implement an evaluation system of performance standards for selected vocational education programs as required by the Perkins Act. The project developed criteria to assess vocational education in secondary schools in Texas. Two objectives were met during 1990-91: conduct background research on…

This paper traces one example of area support for schools to show how an administrator can initiate school-effectiveness work. The paper describes the implementation of an intervention plan for social justice and improved educational outcomes for aboriginal students, the Social Justice Resource Schools (SJRS) program, which was established in the…

Genuine intellectual and other pre-academic skills and abilities are as important as social skills for children's smooth transition into kindergarten and continued school success. Head Start was originally conceived to prepare preschoolers from disadvantaged backgrounds to succeed in elementary school. Now that the program has earned renewed…

This paper describes the contextual dimensions of eight school sites that ameliorate or restrain relationships between mentor and novice teachers. Interview data from 23 mentors, 16 novice teachers, and 8 principals suggest 5 contextual themes that ameliorate or restrain an effective induction for novice teachers: (1) early experiences; (2)…

As an initial step toward developing an accountability plan for educational services, the Administrator of Classification and Programs of the Oklahoma Department of Corrections requested an evaluation of services for fiscal year 1986. Data were gathered for 10 educational services programs through logs prepared by teachers and principals. Results…

The Targeted Jobs Tax Credit (TJTC), which was enacted in 1978, provided an incentive to employers to hire impoverished youth and other individuals from designated groups. In line with classical economic theory, advocates of TJTC anticipated that the legislation would boost total employment by reducing the cost of employing targeted workers. The…

This is the third and final report of a 2-year study analyzing implementation of Title II-A of the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) of 1982. Title II-A, which accounts for about 50 percent of the funds appropriated under JTPA, provides job training for the economically disadvantaged. The report is based on management information and direct…