This guide to self-evaluation and improvement builds upon the advice given in the publication "A Guide to Evaluating Services for Children and Young People Using Quality Indicators" (HMIE, 2006) (A summary of the quality indicators is reproduced in Appendix I). Local authorities, agencies and professionals who have responsibilities for…

The development and implementation of a Professional Development School (PDS)--sponsored summer program for at-risk secondary students is described. Literature related to PDSs and summer programs is followed by a presentation of data findings and analysis. Attendance and grade point average data gathered on the 17 participating rising ninth…

In 1991, the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS) authorized, under the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), a specific grants program. The State Systems for Transitions Services for Youth with Disabilities Program made available competitive 5-year grants to individual states for establishing responsive state…

This study assessed the attitudes of three groups that participated in Upward Bound, a newly instituted academic advisory program at Tomball High School in Texas. It also provided a baseline of data to measure students' academic performance. The three groups, 300 high school freshmen, 115 of their parents, and 33 full time faculty, responded to…

In the 1990s, federal education legislation and policies have encouraged state and local efforts in educational reform and placed a new emphasis on education for and about work. These initiatives have engaged the active participation of a broad range of partners and have spurred a variety of locally customized programs and practices. Nationally,…

The Suffolk County (New York) Department of Social Services sponsored a performance study to gain insight into the department's operations. Management science techniques were used to portray operations of the Client Benefit (CBA) and Community Service (CSA) Divisions. The CBA administers public assistance programs, and the CSA provides social…

A descriptive exploratory study examined what impact community leadership development programs in Ohio had on leadership program participants' leadership skills. Data were gathered using multiple methods: face-to-face interviews, focus group interviews, and pre- and postassessments of leadership practices. The self-report questionnaire used was…

Leaders within the professional practices of law, medicine, business administration, and school leadership share the common challenge of designing, implementing, and evaluating programs of study that integrate sophisticated levels of knowledge of content and deep understanding of the strategies and skills required for practice problem solving.…

Since the 1940s, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has provided training to veterans with service-connected disabilities to help improve their employability. A review of the program, legislation, regulations, and operating procedures and an analysis of program data and visits to regional offices and rehabilitation agencies in four locations…

Research has shown that an effective assessment of workplace literacy programs requires both formative and summative evaluations. Workplace literacy program impact is best measured using a mixture of standard assessment tests and custom-designed instruments. A broader conception of adult literacy learning can be assessed by using interviews and…

Nearly 80 means-tested programs for low-income persons and families have been created by the federal government to help meet the needs of various groups. In fiscal year 1992, the federal government spent about $208 billion through these programs. Evaluation of these programs was based on reports by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and others.…

When the Inner London Education Authority (ILEA) was disbanded in 1990, 13 separate education authorities were created in its place. Two years after its creation, in partnership with all of its secondary schools, one of the new LEAs initiated a school-improvement project to raise standards called Schools Make A Difference (SMAD). This book…

This Head Start On-Site Program Review Instrument (OSPRI) is used to monitor and evaluate Head Start Programs to verify basic compliance with program standards. OSPRI contains Head Start Performance Standards, Performance Standards on Services to Children with Disabilities, and specific program regulations in the areas of recruitment,…

This study of youth development opportunities for youth aged 7 to 14 years in Minneapolis (Minnesota) involved three phases completed between 1994 and 1995. Planning and information gathering involved interviews with 60 program providers and key informants from youth programs. A written survey of 187 program providers assesses perceived barriers…

A study of 250 persons who work with youth with emotional or behavior disorders and participated in school-based wraparound training in several sites across Illinois, evaluated the technical assistance that was provided to them. The initial training provided an introduction to the wraparound process and offered strategies for use in schools. A…