The US Agency for International Development (USAID) Education Policy, guides Agency-wide investments in education and is the primary source of direction for all education programming. The policy outlines key principles and priority areas that are critical to supporting countries on their journey to self-reliance. It applies to all USAID education…

The FNS Research Corner provides a continuing series to summarize recently completed and current research conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) in the area of child nutrition. Summaries of recently completed research projects, research conducted through grant activities, and in-progress research are…

Eight recommendations for the Alabama Commission on Higher Education are offered based on an evaluation of both the commission's effectiveness and on economic, social, and political conditions in Alabama during 1981-1985. The evaluation, which was conducted by the Fourth Quadrennial Evaluation Committee, begins with an assessment of findings…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) evaluated the coordination of the export training offered to small businesses by the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Small Business Administration through the U.S. Export Assistance Centers (USEACs). GAO staff visited 10 of the 19 USEACs. The agencies' training organizers or presenters were interviewed,…

This study of services to young children with special needs in Massachusetts was conducted for the Early Childhood Project, Division of Special Education, Massachusetts Department of Education. The report contains the following: (1) an evaluation of activities carried out between October 1979 and August 1980 by the Birth to Six Project in…

Professional behavior during the General Accounting Office's (GAO's) present era of oversight can best be understood by reviewing the audit types that populate village life in the GAO and the repertoire the office uses in conducting program evaluation audits. (Author/LMO)

The instrumental utilization of evaluation findings to assist in the development of program policy is discussed, drawing examples from an innovative human service program/policy that involves multiple funding ministries and participating agencies. Evaluation practices that enhance utilization, including pre- and postevaluation activities, are…

The role of statewide coordinating/governing agencies in the program review and approval process has grown steadily. It would seem expedient for those involved in the process of state level program review to share ideas, experiences, and concepts of the review process in order to better understand the process itself and to explore possibilities…

As states confront budget shortfalls, investment in mental health services faces the chopping block. Almost every state has instituted cost containment strategies in its Medicaid programs and state policymakers have begun to cut services for people with mental health treatment needs. The first part of this report presents research on state cuts to…

A self study and evaluation guide for agencies serving blind and visually handicapped students presents standards for personnel administration and volunteer services. Standards in eight areas are listed for self evaluation: planning and organization, policy development for personnel administration, personnel policies, personnel policy…

This report discusses considerations involved in placing the evaluation process for criminal justice agencies within an organizational and practical context. The discussion proceeds from the following perspectives: (1) program evaluation is a policy/management tool; (2) various levels of policy and management personnel have numerous and varied…

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the many diverse activities going on under the child advocacy label in order to determine if there was anything new or different about this phenomenon and to attempt some conceptual ordering of the field. Interviews were conducted with a number of people knowledgeable in children's service, and an attempt…

A new approach is described for building a bridge between evaluation and policy-making functions in the Florida Department of Health and Rehabilitative Services. This linkage, the evaluation analysis and policy development process, has important implications for the utilization of evaluation findings and for the career evaluator. (Author/GDC)

The role of the chief scientist in the formulation of a policy of evaluation research by a government unit is considered, together with issues facing his office. Such issues include: accountability; meeting the expectations of decision makers; increasing evaluation utilization; and evaluation feasibility. (AEF)