A study was conducted to implement and evaluate the Transparent School Model for improving parent involvement in nine Indiana schools. The Model uses computer-based voice messaging to exchange information between teachers and parents. Teachers record a brief message for parents that describes what was taught, special learning events, homework…

Early Head Start began with 68 programs in 1995 and today, almost 650 programs serve some 55,000 low-income families with infants and toddlers. This two-generation program provides high-quality child and family development services, a focus on staff development, and a commitment to community partnerships. A rigorous national evaluation, including…

The Peers Early Education Partnership (PEEP) has been in operation in Oxford, England for 5 years, with the aim of raising educational attainment, especially in literacy, by an entire community of children from their birth. This book recounts how PEEP started and its operation over the 5 years, focusing on the impact of the program and the…

At the request of a Senate subcommittee, this report describes the value of conducting impact evaluations, describes their current use in evaluating selected early childhood education and care programs, and discusses the value of other types of early childhood education and care studies currently promoted and sponsored by the Departments of Health…

This study examined three federally supported programs that utilize Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences in the identification of giftedness in economically disadvantaged and minority group youth. Following an extensive review of the literature, three chapters examine each program in detail. Each chapter first sets the identification…

The Child Nutrition Act of 1998 authorized demonstration pilot projects in up to six school food authorities and a rigorous evaluation to assess the effects of providing free school breakfasts to elementary school children. This report describes the evaluation strategy and data collection plans. Part 1 of the report provides background…

National statistics show a rise in the number of beginning teachers undergoing formal induction in their first year of teaching. This report discusses the effectiveness of induction programs and resulting outcomes for beginning teacher retention, beginning teacher effectiveness, and mentor participation. The various components of induction…

Urban Impact is a Title II Teacher Quality Enhancement Act partnership grant supporting the development of new strategies and structures to strengthen the preparation and development of beginning teachers in urban settings in Tennessee. This study evaluated the success of Urban Impact in establishing professional and social supports for the first…

This paper critiques current models for evaluation of mental health services provided to children and adolescents with emotional disturbances and offers an alternative model. The most popular model, Donabedian's tripartite model, is described. This model separately evaluates three domains: (1) structure (characteristics of the care providers,…

Project CLASS (Chinese Language Achievement through Sequential Study), a federally-funded program, introduced the study of Chinese language and culture at Queen Ka'ahumanu Elementary School (Hawaii), forming the foundation of an instructional program to be continued through middle and high school, to meet state foreign language standards. It was…

This report of the General Accounting Office to a Congressional Committee examines possible overlapping functions of three federal special education grant programs mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The programs are: (1) Special Education Grants to States (School-age Grants); (2) Special Education Preschool Grants…

North Carolina's Kinder Camp is a 4-week program designed to prepare children for entry into kindergarten. All participants must have completed Project Family Read. A North Carolina elementary school measured the programs effectiveness by using the Cognitive/Language Profile of the American Guidance Service Early Screening Profiles as a pre- and…

This mandated report to Congress describes the background and purposes of a national study of Head Start impact, the progress of the study, current activities to conduct a field test and prepare for the main study, and the projected timeline for study completion. The report notes that in 2000, a contract was awarded to determine on a national…

The TEACH Grant--Foreign Language in Elementary Schools (FLES) project assisted six Wisconsin elementary schools in developing and delivering unique model programs demonstrating the innovative use of a variety of technologies to support foreign language teaching and learning. The project involved a collaboration between the Wisconsin TEACH Board…

In 1996, the City of Phoenix Enterprise Community Job Linkages Initiative sought to increase employment by matching local people with local jobs. Evaluation of the second project at Friendly House found that Friendly House, during the 18 months of the grant, increased residents' employability skills and linked them with Enterprise Community…