This chapter describes the historical and contemporary theoretical underpinnings of learning communities and argues that there is a need for more complex models in conceptualizing and assessing their effectiveness.

The Success By 6® (SB6) initiative is designed to support early care and education centers in improving and sustaining quality in Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). This SB6 evaluation report examines implementation and outcomes. The findings have implications for SB6 continous quality improvement process…

The Success By 6® (SB6) initiative is designed to support early care and education centers in improving and sustaining quality in Pennsylvania's Keystone STARS Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS). The SB6 evaluation report examines implementation and outcomes. The findings have implications for SB6 continous quality improvement process…

Small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play an important role in creating a dynamic and successful European economy. Time-poor managers in these organisations generally have fewer opportunities for training and development than their counterparts in larger organisations. As a result, different requirements are placed on training. The aim of…

The professional development school (PDS) is a model of choice for many teacher preparation programs. This approach integrates the functions of teacher preparation, professional development, inquiry and research, and student achievement to bring about whole-school improvement and the simultaneous renewal of the teaching profession. Ideally,…

An evaluation of extension education at Haile Sellassie University is presented. It includes the following focal points: (1) extension development, (2) present extension services, (3) the need for a new concept of university extension, (4) extension in a developing country, (5) recommendations, and (6) future research. (CK)

This report, prepared by the Delinquency and School Environments Program of the Center for Social Organization of Schools, presents a set of standards for implementing Program Development Evaluation (PDE), a method for strengthening school organizational and research effectiveness. This report supplements an earlier account of the Program…

This evaluation report on the North Carolina Pilot Kindergarten Program covers the 74 local educational units involved in the program for the 1972-73 school year. The first part of the document is narrative, including (1) an historical perspective from the program's beginning in 1969, (2) discussion of philosophy, objectives, and guidelines, (3)…

Describes the development and implementation of a plan at Baylor College of Medicine for providing computer support for both the administrative and scientific/ research needs of the Baylor community. The cost-effectiveness of this plan is also examined. (Author/CMV)

This document summarizes the first 3 years (June 1965-September 1968) of the Minnesota Research Coordination Unit's operation. Described are: (1) the factors which influenced the evolution of Unit objectives, (2) the organizational structure, personnel and facilities, (3) the Unit activities which were related to its objectives, (4) a subjective…

The discrepancies between the comprehensive design for Follow Through evaluation and the program management's needs of the seven models in Philadelphia are discussed. The national evaluation has focused on pupil performance and achievement data. The local evaluation, conducted since 1968, has focused on: (1) the assessment of the correspondence…

This booklet describes and evaluates the Economic Opportunity Atlanta Inc. Reading/Math Basic Skills Learning Center operating in 14 Atlanta public schools for approximately 1,200 low achieving pupils. The basic concept of the Learning Centers was to provide pupils with the opportunity to improve their basic skills in reading or mathematics…

As mentoring programs have proliferated, considerable variation in approaches to programmatic mentoring has emerged. Concomitant confusion exists about the context, structure, and goals that constitute mentoring as a distinct intervention. This article presents a brief summary of what is currently known about different approaches to mentoring and…

This report, published in two volumes, provides a documentary record of the National Science Foundation's (NSF) Science Development Program (SDP). Information is given on overall university funding levels and on other development programs, with SDP goals and procedures described in detail. Using information on budgets and goals as well as…

The information and recommendations presented in this report are a distillation of a more extensive companion volume, "The Importance of Year-Round Schools." Together both volumes fully describe the second phase of a national study of year-round schools (YRS) that was initially begun by the National Council of Year-Round Education in 1975. The…