Examines collaboration between schools and nonprofit community-based organizations and its impact on dropout prevention programing and staff-student relations. The study is part of a 3-year longitudinal evaluation of the New York City Attendance Improvement Dropout Prevention program at 6 of 29 city middle schools implementing the collaboration.…

Presents evaluation of state-certified asbestos abatement training program to evaluate appropriateness and effectiveness of training against actual work experiences. Survey administered to trainees (n=114) indicates most (78 percent) passed retest on course content, the course received an average effectiveness rating of 92 percent, and actual work…

Wise use of Department of Education program evaluation funds is considered. The following current principal evaluation areas are discussed: (1) compensatory education; (2) bilingual education; (3) postsecondary education; (4) vocational education; (5) early childhood education; (6) drug education; (7) dropout prevention; (8) special education and…

The difficulties of school restructuring are demonstrated in a three-year evaluation of the Annie E. Casey Foundation's five-year New Futures Initiative. New Futures attempts to improve the life chances of disadvantaged youth by promoting change in schools and other youth-serving agencies in four cities. (SLD)

The integrity of research conducted in academic institutions should not be compromised in the conflict between the scientific community, public agencies, and legislators over oversight of federally funded projects. Integrity can be protected through prevention of abuse in researcher recruitment and training and through partnership between faculty…

Involving undergraduate teacher education students in structured research experiences is one strategy for strengthening their reflective and critical thinking skills. This article identifies several universities that have student-teacher-as-researcher programs, outlines characteristics of successful programs, and points out problems and obstacles…

Observations of an elementary school in Florence (Italy) show the strengths and weaknesses of the Italian school system and its implications for education in the United States. The homogeneity of values and culture that characterize the Italian classroom are in marked contrast to the classroom of a U.S. city. (SLD)

A study was conducted at the University of Southern Mississippi School of Library Science to quantitatively determine whether courses adequately addressed program goals and objectives. Results showed that service goals and librarianship were reasonably addressed, but research and management goals were addressed in few courses. The statement of…

Examines the collaboration process between a teacher, teacher-librarian, and language specialist working to develop an integrated language and content novel study unit for a fifth-grade class with a high percentage of mainstreamed ESL (English-as-a-Second-Language) students. Definitions and principles of collaboration are described, and the…

The nine articles of this special section focus on the role of evaluation in the reform of the mental health system in Washington. The reform process is described from its inception through its design to the dissemination and utilization of evaluation results. The final article considers implications for statewide evaluations. (SLD)

Evaluated first phase of three-phase research project, Project KICK (Kids in Cooperation with Kids) by examining interaction between parent education, positive peer role modeling, and drug education for third graders. Hypothesized that intervention would lead to increase in self-esteem, improved attitudes, increased knowledge regarding drugs, and…

Applies the opportunity to learn conceptual framework to previously collected multiple-case study data from a 3-year study of an academic intervention program in 10 urban Chapter 1 elementary schools. Also illustrates how the multiple-case study approach can be used as an explanatory research tool. (SLD)

The implementation of the Rasch model during the longitudinal evaluation of a federally funded early-childhood preschool-intervention program is described. Results with 828 eighth graders show a functional relationship between years of early intervention and magnitude of effect on the life-skills competency variable. (SLD)

Discusses the role of standards, assessment, and program evaluation in the University of Southern Maine's Professional Development School (PDS) model. University and PDS faculty support standards-based assessment that is integral to the one-year graduate teaching internship and preparation program. Evidence indicates that shared responsibility for…

This collection of articles on the Georgia State University Physical Education Teacher Education Assessment Project focuses on: a project description; using the development, research, and improvement model; research methodology; assessing dispositions, knowledge, and pedagogical knowledge; cooperating teachers' perspectives; locating indicators of…