Discusses ways in which a community-based program evaluation can be enhanced by using a screening tool to delineate the program's evaluative needs, resources, and commitments. Describes use of the Evaluation Pre-Screening Tool and reports on some examples of successful use. (SLD)

Describes the efforts of one community to define, begin, and finally, embrace community evaluation in the evaluation of a Smart Start program in Cumberland, North Carolina. Lists lessons learned in "selling" the evaluation to the community. (SLD)

Draws on interviews with 61 officials in 13 federal agencies to illustrate a framework showing many of the potential uses of evaluation in support of performance management. Suggests 10 actions as opportunities for agency administrators and evaluators to bridge the current gaps between potential and actual uses of evaluation. (Author/SLD)

Studied the nature of barriers to the implementation of external program evaluation through interviews with 18 staff members of a university outreach program. Findings reinforce the importance of a trusting relationship to avoid barriers to evaluation implementation. (SLD)

The most recent attempt by educators to emulate the "sound principles" and methods of business and science is to become data-driven. The leaders in a data-driven school are able to demonstrate how some number, preferably scores on standardized tests, has moved upward as a result of some program they have initiated. Data-driven schools also possess…

While legislative oversight offices, like many evaluation and policy analysis units, face substantial challenges in promoting use of their work by policymakers, they often have not taken steps to overcome these challenges by adopting the strategies suggested by the evaluation literature. Although the offices seek utilization, they have not fully…

This paper summarizes views on the costs of evaluation developed as part of CSE's Evaluation Productivity Project. In particular, it focuses on ideas about the kinds of costs associated with factors known to effect evaluation utilization. The first section deals with general issues involved in identifying and valuing cost components, particularly…

While there is a recognized need for new and better ways to train soldiers to fight, many training programs developed in response to this need are used poorly or not at all. In part, the failure to use these training programs stems from the lack of established procedures for monitoring implementation and evaluating use. Effective monitoring can…

The user-oriented and utilization-focused evaluation design of the two-year Caribbean Agricultural Extension Project, funded by Aid to International Development, is reviewed. The evaluation scope, stakeholders, evaluation team credibility, official approval of evaluation, and confidence in the evaluation process are addressed, within a…

Study investigated the factors that influence the use of evaluative information for decision making by school boards. Study suggests that there is no set process for decision making but that there are decision-making patterns that depend on contextual variables. (RB)

A member of the British Schools Inspectorate visited the United States to study approaches to teacher management and evaluation. He reports on the purposes and methods of teacher evaluation, the judgments made and their use, and whether the process leads to improvement. (Author/MT)

The authors address management's need to train supervisors to use employee performance appraisals. Topics covered include (1) application and usefulness of the appraisal system, (2) various approaches to employee evaluation, and (3) training of supervisory personnel. (Author/CH)

Describes how evaluative studies of social and educational programs can be useful in (1) providing data about Black girls and their needs, (2) examining Black girls' experiences that have not been explored in basic research, and (3) tying data to matters of future practice. (KH)

It is common practice to associate recommendations for program improvement with evaluation reports. In this article, several classes of recommendations are identified, and aspects of one class are explored in some detail. Consideration is given to certain logical, methodological, and practical issues relating to the derivation of recommendations…

This paper systematically explores the matches and mismatches between the needs of different audience about educational quality and the ability of accreditation as it is currently constituted to respond to these needs. Many different audiences now seek assurance of the quality of colleges and universities using accreditation as the mechanism.…