States continue to work to implement statewide accountability systems; publicly report extensive information on State and local report cards, as required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA); and provide additional resources to schools designated for support and improvement. These systems are vital for improving outcomes…

Programs for gifted and talented education should be guided by research-based practices, but states' policies vary in their recommendations for programming, and in how they hold local education agencies accountable for implementing those recommendations. State plans for gifted and talented education rely on the voluntary compliance of districts to…

In 2021, California committed to providing universal prekindergarten (UPK) for all 4-year-olds and income-eligible 3-year-olds by 2025-26. UPK includes several early learning programs, including transitional kindergarten (TK), the California State Preschool Program (CSPP), Head Start, and expanded learning opportunities to provide full-day early…

According to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended (ESEA), a State wanting to receive Federal funds must submit a plan indicating which of nine programs it wants to receive funds for. This is the final report on the results of the audit of the U.S. Department of Education's processes for reviewing and approving State plans…

This publication uses draft equity plans developed by three Reform Support Network pilot States to demonstrate several approaches to the development of State equity plans in response to the Secretary's Excellent Educators for All initiative. It summarizes how the State education agencies addressed each component of the equity plan and their…

In January 2012, the West Virginia Governor's Office released an influential report, "Education Efficiency Audit of West Virginia's Primary and Secondary Education System," written by Public Works (2012), a management consulting company headquartered in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Based largely on this report, the West Virginia…

This article details the journey Luke Rhine, a Program Specialist in Career and Technology Education at the Maryland State Department of Education, as he went about the difficult task of building consistency and establishing rigorous expectations for Technology education in Maryland. As a result, Maryland has developed a model for Technology…

After decades, the concept of "how to change the status quo of deaf education" continues to dazzle and frustrate us intellectually and academically. We want deaf and hard of hearing students to achieve academically and to thrive in the world as adults. Yet, too often, test scores and post-school outcomes remain unacceptably low. Our…

This evaluation study examined the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the statewide master plan for professional development (PD Master Plan) by investigating seven questions. With regard to effectiveness, (1) What was the level of implementation for the PD Master Plan, overall and by individual providers? (2) What were the impediments, if…

In this evaluation, as in previous years, four main aspects of the implementation of the West Virginia Board of Education's Master Plan for Statewide Professional Development were examined: (a) basic information reported by providers about the size and scope of the effort, including attendance, and adherence to the newly adopted standards for…

During the summer of 2008, the Minnesota Department of Education contracted with Hezel Associates, LLC, to conduct an external evaluation of the Q Comp implementation. The evaluation team has adopted a formative-summative approach to the investigation of Q Comp impact and sustainability. This approach has made it possible to study how Q Comp works…

The major activities and outcomes of a project involved in organizing a statewide system for evaluating special projects for disadvantaged and handicapped students enrolled in secondary-level vocational education programs are presented. A description of six major project activities is provided: (1) a review of evaluation systems and practices; (2)…

Describes activities developed in promoting a statewide continuing education system. They included television and radio advertisements, a user's manual, and a logo. Program evaluation and implementation are also discussed. (CT)

This guide was prepared to assist state directors/coordinators of career education in becoming more knowledgeable about management and evaluation. The purposes of the guide are to define managementand identify basic functions, review characteristics of managers, and identify evaluation techniques available to help managers do a better job. The…

Describes an evaluation of state career education plans funded by the Office of Career Education. The survey covered common planning problems, problems with funding and legislation, and implementation of plans (objectives, involvement of state education boards, and allocation of funds). (CT)