In this case study, the ways in which evaluation, the decision maker, and the change process influenced the use or non-use of federally mandated evaluations of vocational and technical programs were studied for Maryland since 1979. A Discrepancy Analysis was used to determine whether the intended benefits from evaluation implementation and…

Written for local, State, and Federal vocational educators, this publication discusses the feasibility of implementing recommendations from some recent evaluations of educational excellence. Criteria for estimating the appropriateness of evaluation findings are given, and recommendations are offered for creating an infrastructure among local,…

The purpose of a research project was to identify approaches for improving the use of evaluation data through better linking of state-level evaluation and planning. The first phase included a review of literature in education and related disciplines and a national survey to elicit information from 55 states and territories concerning evaluation…

Much of the evaluation of vocational education at the state and local levels has been conducted in response to federal legislation. Although some of the evaluative information has been useful for program improvement, much has been collected only for compliance with federal and state mandates. The educational reform movement has prompted school…

Evaluation is important to public education and training programs if the United States is to be competitive in a global economy. Six major factors have had an impact on evaluation efforts: decreased financial resources, increased public dissatisfaction, changed management approaches, enhanced evaluation methods and procedures, redesigned…

The linkage of planning and evaluation in vocational education is a conceptual as well as an operational phenomenon. In an ideal situation, planning and evaluation are not two distinct sets of activities but rather interrelated aspects of a dynamic and inquiring system with the overall mission of reconciling policy design and policy action.…

This document provides a detailed overview of all data collection, analysis, and reporting aspects of a third-party, independent evaluation conducted in Illinois to determine the impact of the 214 vocational education Quality Assistance Plans funded in fiscal year 1983. The effectiveness of the Impact Assessment Design as a resource in Quality…

A multiple-case, "tracer" study was undertaken involving 11 research projects of the "Education et Vie Active" (Education and the Active Life)--a national vocational education program in Switzerland--to assess the importance of contacts between researchers and practitioners. Iterative data from interviews, observations, and…

This publication offers 10 major policy recommendations for improving the evaluation of secondary vocational education programs for special populations and ultimately the programs themselves. In the 10 sections following an introduction, each of the policy areas is introduced by a brief overview. A policy recommendation is then made along with a…

Design and implementation of a curriculum evaluation plan for the vocational education program (occupational education under the Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Applied Technology Act) of a large correctional system are described. An outside evaluator assisted in designing and conducting the first year's evaluation. The 1991-92 curriculum used was…

The Annual Performance Report submitted by each state to the Office of Vocational and Adult Education was used to monitor what states have developed and how and to what extent states have implemented their accountability system. The following findings of this analysis are synthesized in this report: (1) 32 states require evaluation of all programs…

Legislation has largely treated planning and evaluation in vocational education separately. There has been a history of increasing requirements in planning and evaluation and of diffusing responsibility. In addition, existing policy regarding vocational education's dominant mission shows a general lack of clarity. Such factors inhibit the linking…

Traditionally, outcomes measured by postsecondary vocational education assessment have included labor force participation rates, type of employment, earnings, and employer satisfaction with employees. Today, however, legislators and policymakers are moving more and more toward accountability measures tied to students' educational outcomes, such as…

An introductory report, six commissioned papers, and four selected background reports presented at the North Berwick Workshop, one of a series of educational research meetings sponsored by the Council of Europe, are provided. The Workshop brought together research workers and educational administrators from different countries to: review…

This five-section guide is intended to lead marketing education personnel through the program evaluation and improvement process in Missouri. The first section is an introduction that provides a rationale for evaluation, discusses the resource, process, and product standards that should be used and suggests ways these standards can be applied. The…