One view of accountability focuses on schemes that assume that if government can get more rational information and use it in more scientific ways, the schools' performance can be improved; the other assumes that the schools' problems are less scientific than political and that clients and constituents should influence educational decisions more…

In this thesis, the problems of designing interparochial educational plans (specifically a plan for the Catholic schools of Oakland, California) are explored. A general overview of Catholic education in the United States is given, along with the history of urban education in the Diocese of Oakland. The physical plants, minority enrollment,…

Both smaller and larger school districts allocate 3 percent of total budgets, or $4.00 per pupil, for program evaluation. Of this $4.00, $3.00 is spent on outcome or process evaluation, 60 cents on program planning/needs assessment, and 40 cents on dissemination/utilization. Findings are from an evaluation budget procedures survey of evaluation…

Limited resources and competing demands are forcing statewide planners and decisionmakers to become increasingly concerned with program approval and review. One new element is the review of existing programs as states find it necessary to consider program additions in concert with program terminations. The prospect of declining or stable…

Planning-programming-budgeting systems (PPBS) have been looked on by public-sector organizations as a mechanism to improve the decision process in resource allocation. PPBS requires (1) selecting the overall long-range objectives of the organization and the systematic analysis of various courses of action leading to their attainment; (2) deciding…

This study examines the entitlement and payment arrangements set out in the maintenance and operations portion of the impact aid laws. Section 1 provides a brief background description of the program, including the changes made in the 1974 Amendments, a recent budget history, and a description of the program's beneficiaries. Section 2 contains an…

Educational Information System (EIS) is a proposed computer-based data processing system to help schools solve current educational problems more efficiently. The system would allow for more effective administrative operations in student scheduling, financial accounting, and long range planning. It would also assist school trustees and others in…

This document consists of the papers presented at a meeting of experts who examined and evaluated systems analysis and management technique applications to practical educational planning. The papers focus primarily on the integration of shortrun and longrun aspects of educational planning and the relationship between objectives and implementation.…

In the slightly over twelve years since its inception, computer-based instruction (CBI) has shown the promise of being more cost-effective than traditional instruction for certain educational applications. Pilot experiments are underway to evaluate various CBI systems. Should these tests prove successful, a major problem confronting advocates of…

A set of procedures were developed which assist in structuring tasks and objectives in a manner to permit rational decision making. The model uses a jury of experts to rank various objectives and program processes in terms of their importance. Values are generated which relate to costs in the form of a utility-cost ratio. The model was tested in a…

Community colleges have traditionally received funding based on student enrollment, which is usually considered an input in the educational process. Recently, however, legislation enacted at the federal and state levels specifies that funding is to hinge, as least in part, on student performance--an output measure. Performance standards improve…

This report describes an ongoing, large scale evaluation of First Things First (FTF), a district-wide comprehensive school reform initiative in Kansas City, Kansas. FTF is an example of a theory of change initiative, which entails specifying and sequencing each step required to achieve the desired outcomes in order to monitor early, intermediate,…

In response to a legislative request, the efficiency of program operations of the University of Floridas Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS) was evaluated using data from multiple sources. IFAS is the entity responsible for carrying out the University of Floridas land grant mission. IFAS offers programs in agriculture, family and…

Educators must recognize the inadequacies of their planning, programing, evaluation, and budgeting systems. When these are redeveloped, PPBS will produce the cost/effectiveness data they are really capable of. (WM)

Many problems are encountered when evaluating a complex, decentralized national program such as 4-H. Good effects of the federal evaluation mandate include local concern with program quality. Bad effects include that local agencies are forced to utilize noxious methodologies or to collect information they consider to be unimportant. (Author/GC)