Prepared by local vocational administrators and teachers, this is one of five manuals resulting from the Illinois Occupational Curriculum Project. Designed to assist teachers and administrators plan and evaluate occupational, technical, and career education courses and programs, this manual contains activities for accomplishing program evaluation,…

Unemployment insurance is the principal income program for workers who lose their jobs, however, it does not provide adequate income, nor does it provide for all unemployed persons. Because many different programs are operated for this purpose, they tend to have a fragmented effect and leave many unemployed persons with no income support. This…

Suggests that successful evaluation projects for training programs focus on management decisions. Provides a checklist of concerns that deal with the effectiveness, efficiency, and relevance of the program. Discusses the selection of the data level and decision-making criteria. (CSS)

Guidance is provided to organizational personnel in establishing a means for assessing the effectiveness of a new performance appraisal system. (TA)

Program theory can be used to improve programs and policies. This article describes a set of techniques for complicating and simplifying program theory, referred to as conceptual and action heuristics. Methods such as analyzing metaphors, clarifying concepts, mapping, component assessment, causal modeling, and decision analysis are discussed. (JAZ)

This article reviews studies of the effectiveness of continuing education in the health professions, notes weaknesses in the continuing education system, and suggests strategies for improving it. (Author/CT)

Ethical issues relating to naturalistic evaluation are addressed, focusing on the role of the evaluator, problems of privacy and data gathering techniques, and issues relating to the use/abuse of findings. Benefits and costs of the naturalistic approach to program evaluation are also identified. (EGS)

lines insurance needs for adventure education programs. Gives results of a survey (65 percent response rate) of 68 adventure education programs and their insurance coverage or reasons why they had no insurance. Discusses risk management for adventure education programs. (MH)

This report of the Detroit Public Schools compiles data analysis of prekindergarten children's entry level skills, a 1-month follow-up assessment, and an end-of-the-year skills evaluation. The report contains information on the growth and development of 3- and 4-year-old prekindergarten students in the Michigan School Readiness Program and Head…

The views of rehabilitation consumers have not played a central role in shaping training programs for rehabilitation counselors. Likewise, partnerships between state vocational rehabilitation agencies and institutions of higher education have not been developed to their full potential. A planned collaboration between Montana Vocational…

Intended for use by childcare center directors, this guide presents the Quick Quality Check, a practical method for measuring and improving the quality of care in infant/toddler classrooms. The four chapters of the guide discuss the specifics of the Quick Quality Check method for both infants and toddlers, including the instrument development, as…

This guide is an evaluation that can help one answer relevant questions about improving a reading or language arts program such as: Are there changes that need to be made? Is a stronger commitment needed to strengths identified in the program? and Are specific resources needed to make it more successful? The manual points out that if an improved…

After 10 years of development, the California Statewide Automated Child Support System, run by the Department of Social Services (DSS), has been scrapped and the state has begun developing a new child support collection computer. This report evaluates the performance of publicly-funded child support collection programs in California, examining the…

Interviews with a sample of clients, served by the rehabilitation workshop of the Jewish Employment and Vocational Service of St. Louis, substantiates need for vocational follow-up. (AG)

How you can improve a poor program without shaping up a promising teacher. (Editor)