A statistical definition of information utilization for policy making decisions and an evaluation impact test to determine its occurrence are proposed. A univariate time series analysis is used to identify the internal trend for a given policy output variable and to control its effect. Two problems are identified in implementing an evaluation…

This study of the federal government's evaluation of social programs indicates that it is virtually impossible to establish a bias-free, valid, and reliable system of inquiry to determine the effects of social programs. Divided into five chapters, the document examines the aspirations and limitations of evaluations, methodology, evaluation in the…

The evaluation design and findings for nine demonstration school participating in the Indiana Comprehensive Plan for the Arts in Education are reviewed. Each school developed a quality arts education curriculum and shared their approaches with affiliated schools in their networks. The program evaluation design focused on program implementation and…

The evaluation design of the 1978-79 local/state bilingual education program of Austin Independent School District is presented. The primary focus of the evaluation is the assessment of the objectives in language development and concept development submitted to the Texas Education Agency. A secondary focus is the collection of information related…

A model for evaluating effectiveness in preschool and school social work programs is proposed. The paradigm has two major dimensions: criteria for evaluating success, and modalities for assessing whether the criteria have been met. Three criteria are suggested including improved views of significant others, and seven modalities including test…

This document contains the proceedings of a two-day symposium conducted to analyze four different perspectives (psychological, economic, anthropological, and sociological) on evaluating experiential education programs. The perspectives are represented in papers by Samuel H. Osipow, Psychology, Ohio State University; Nicholas M. Kiefer, Economics,…

The 17 papers in this book are collected to offer some insights into the problems of teaching the disadvantaged. Part I contains papers on the nature of the disadvantaged child, curriculum relevant to his needs, and difficulties in evaluating compensatory education programs; Part II includes papers describing compensatory education from various…

The project was developed out of recognition of the gap existing between formal training programs for teachers of the educable retarded and actual classroom teaching. In an attempt to provide meaningful inservice experiences to a large number of both urban and rural special class teachers at minimal per teacher expense, the Minnesota State…

This study was concerned with implementing guidelines from studies of the differences between boys and girls in school-related behaviors to test the contribution made to educational goals by considering gender of the learner. The basic strategy was to consider tested sex differences in behavior and to use these as a basis for developing classroom…

Passage of the Education Amendments of 1974 added a new section to Title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, which required the U.S. Commissioner of Education to undertake specific activities regarding evaluation of the program. Efforts made by the Office of Education to implement this law are described, including the…

This self-evaluation manual assists local school systems in undertaking a comprehensive examination of their curriculum, facilities, and supporting services. The primary thrust of the Maine program, however, is to promote long-range planning for improved educational opportunities based upon reliable data and a careful assessment of available…

The second of a two-part discussion of an experimental program involving small group teaching in a mixed-ability secondary English class in Scotland, this report extends and investigates more deeply some of the problems not dealt with in the first part of the report. Specifically, it analyzes the modes of assessment possible in this form of class…

This chapter of "The Best of the Best of ERIC," Volume 2, contains 11 summaries of documents and journal articles on parent evaluation of schools, all Secondary Education; *Parent Attitudes; Parent Teacher Conferences; Student Journals in Education." The materials included deal with various aspects of this topic, such as the use of…

The Naturalistic Evaluation Methodology presented here rests on a transactionist theory of child development, an ecological view of human behavior and the quasi-clinical method of inquiry. It is intended that the procedures will lead not only to the improvement of the quality of preschool education but will generate knowledge about children's…

The purpose of this study conducted by the Wisconsin Research and Development Center for Cognitive Learning was to develop, implement, and evaluate an experimental preschool education program based on Piaget's theory of cognitive development. A second purpose was to examine Piaget's theoretical assumptions and postulated cognitive developmental…