Findings of an evaluation of a pilot home-based respite care program designed to serve 35 severely mentally retarded and disabled persons were reported. Results indicated that respite care services had never been previously received by 51.8% of the families. (Author/SB)

An adult basic education evaluation design should be directly related to realistic and assessable process and outcome objectives of a project. The design should be established early, and baseline data should be obtained prior to, or at least concurrent with, initiating the delivery of services. (CT)

This special issue presents results of a multisite, multiyear national demonstration project designed to test the effectiveness of integrating street outreach programs aimed at preventing HIV infection with referral to substance abuse treatment for populations that historically have been difficult to reach (Author/SLD)

A study examined the impact of the "Closing the Achievement Gap" (CAG schools) program on the academic achievement of students in 30 schools serving high percentages of African American and economically disadvantaged students in West Virginia (WV), 2004-2008. The program assigned experienced educators, "CAG liaisons", to the…

Purpose: We describe and evaluate a project designed to pilot test an evidence-based clinical intervention for assessing and treating depression in older adults in rural primary care clinics. Project ADAPT--Assuring Depression Assessment and Proactive Treatment--utilized existing primary care resources to overcome barriers to sustainability…

Afterschool programs offer an important avenue for enhancing educational opportunities. Federal, state, and local educational authorities increasingly see them as environments to improve attitudes toward school, achievement, and academic performance (Fashola, 2002; Hollister, 2003) with higher levels of student participation and engagement in…

In 1989, the Technical Assistance for Special Populations Program (TASPP) developed a process to identify exemplary vocational education programs serving youth and adults with special needs. A national survey was conducted, with responses received from more than 350 professional vocational educators of special needs students in several states. In…

This final report describes the review and evaluation of 10 years of Pennsylvania's 310 special projects in the areas of program promotion, program linkages, and staff development. Three major selection criteria were effectiveness, innovative qualities, and adoptability. Of some 97 projects reviewed, 21 were deemed exemplary. A reader survey of…

This guide provides a brief overview of the issues involved in the validation process. It was developed for evaluators of adult education projects, such as 310 projects. The guide is organized in three sections. The first section discusses the rationale for validation. The second section describes the characteristics of validation models. The…

These criteria are designed for use by teachers and administrators to conduct a self-assessment of an industrial arts program for students and thus identify outstanding programs. General criteria are grouped under 12 standards: purpose, administration and supervision, learning resources, finances, instruction, equipment, facilities, instructional…

The Kentucky Department of Education has developed the merit rating as a means of providing special recognition to middle school and high school curricular areas that are of superior quality. When a school wishes an area of the curriculum to be considered for a merit rating, the principal requests an evaluation; an evaluation team is selected and…

An evaluation of a 3-year child abuse program, involving 11 demonstration centers, had two major objectives: (1) to test different strategies for tackling the child abuse problem and (2) to study carefully the successes and failures of the various projects. (CS)

This document describes a demonstration project in film education, employment training, and research which included an education and employment training program offered to 26 economically disadvantaged youths ranging in age from 14 to 19. For nine months, these students met for four hours each working day to work both on individual personal films,…

The handbook is intended to assist evaluators working with preschool model demonstration projects funded by the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program (HCEEP). Background on HCEEP is provided, and the function of evaluation within the network is emphasized. A section on planning evaluations deals with such aspects as focusing, planning…

The final report describes the Cantalician Center for Learning's Family/Infant Program, a 3 year demonstration project to enhance the growth and well being of developmentally disabled and at risk infants by helping family members become more effective caregivers and teachers. The first section covers the target population, provides a brief…