Tinto's retention model provided the theoretical framework for the design of a comprehensive student-retention study at an urban, public 4-year college. The study employed quantitative and qualitative methods to obtain a broad understanding of the many salient factors that contribute to student persistence over a 4-year period. Institutional data…

Interest is a powerful psychological factor in learning. Middle school students need to be involved in both selecting reading materials and choosing the method of appraisal. Approaches used need to encourage, not hinder interest in reading. Some student projects that have been used as evaluation tools are dioramas, pictures, pantomime, oral…

Thirteen papers are presented that discuss issues in public personnel decision making, specifically in the area of personnel selection. After an introduction by James P. Springer, the following papers are presented: (1) "History of Employment Testing" (Matthew Hale); (2) "Job Families: A Review and Discussion of Their Implications for Personnel…

Largely because of high student loan default rates, much of the criticism of federal aid programs has focused on policies and practices affecting the participation of proprietary schools in federal student aid. This report reviews alternative indicators of school performance that are currently used or could be used by the federal student aid…

This document illustrates holistic methods of evaluation, using an example of a new arts assessment mechanism developed by researchers involved in a five-year, large-scale assessment project called ARTS PROPEL. It is noted that these methods can be applied in many other content areas. ARTS PROPEL's philosophy and ministry guidelines are outlined…

This paper provides an analysis of the current status of the states' eligibility policies for children with disabilities, ages 3 through 5. The study of all states and the District of Columbia indicated that states have made substantial progress toward developing eligibility policy since the passage of Public Law 99-457, the 1986 Amendments to the…

This paper offers observations on how research and teaching can join forces to improve learning in the classroom by involving the faculty in classroom research. It explains the use of classroom assessment and techniques for gaining information on what students are learning and how well they are learning it. Classroom assessments are defined as…

Using the right hemisphere of the brain in evaluating student writing means consciously and consistently incorporating its emotional, intuitive, and holistic functions with the more analytical functions of the logical "left" hemisphere when considering, judging, and directing improvement in student writing. Research seems to suggest that…

Developed to assist schools in making an in-depth study of the recommendations set forth in "A Nation At Risk," this package of evaluation materials provides questions and a structure to guide data collection and analysis. A separate section of instructions precedes the evaluation instruments and contains a list of recommended reading…

Arranged in two sections, this guide provides materials for adapting the "Learning About Social Behavior" program for learning disabled elementary school students. Section 1 contains the following specialized test instruments: the School Observation Scale, Cognition of Behavioral Relations, Cognition of Behavioral Systems, Cognition of…

A model for preservice and inservice teacher self-assessment, which fosters improved performance, is divided into two phases. Phase 1 begins at the preservice level, and phase 2 is carried out during the time the teacher is under contract in a school setting. During phase 1, the teacher candidate explores the answers to three questions in…

Designed for teachers and tutors, the handbook discusses setting up a cross-age tutoring program. Topics include tutor responsibilities; the role of resource teachers; tutor contracts; specific relationship-building and tutoring techniques; ideas for tutoring in handwriting; and techniques for tutoring in reading, spelling, and arithmetic. The…

The Center for the Study of Evaluation Systems Project focuses on assessing the costs and impacts of managing testing, evaluation, and instructional (T/E/I) systems through a collection of nine papers: (1) "School District Evaluation Offices: Are They Worth the Money?," by Richard C. Williams and Pam McGranahan; (2) "How Two…

This sourcebook presents results of a recent case study of how principals are selected in American public school districts. Part 1 (chapters 1-3) describes and evaluates conventional selection practices in 10 randomly supplied school districts according to a five-step process: vacancy announcememts, selection criteria, applicant pools, screening,…

Prepared in compliance with the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA), this planning document presents objectives and procedures for improving Texas library services in conjunction with five statewide goals of the Texas State Library: (1) to assist in financing library services and resources in Texas; (2) to improve delivery of materials…