Both the Evaluation Research Society and minimum competency testing proponents have searched for evaluation standards. A need exists for ethical standards which are universal and absolute, as well as methodolgical guidelines which are particular and relative. (CP)

Although competency-based teacher education (CBTE) materials are often instrumental in teacher training and improvement, the low availability of the materials, their complexity, and lack of evaluation data can prove serious impediments to widespread use of CBTE. (LH)

The Research and Statistics Section of the Illinois Office of Education conducted a study to determine (1) the status of research and evaluation services in the Illinois public schools and (2) the need for such services relative to other basic educational needs. (Author/RK)

Administrators, who assess others, cannot themselves be immune from assessment. A plan for administrator assessment is offered. (Editor/RK)

Quality of life issues in social skills assessment of persons with disabilities are discussed in terms of definitions, measures, applications to social skills assessment, and future needs. It is argued that broader measures need to be used in social skills assessment in order to evaluate quality of life changes. (CR)

Reviews the research that suggests that qualitative approaches to the evaluation of library user education programs may sometimes be more appropriate than quantitative measures. The differences between quantitative and qualitative evaluation are discussed, and the instances in which one approach may be preferred to the other are identified. (17…

Provides information useful to educators who are rethinking their current approach to assessment and identifies characteristics of each assessment that seem particularly noteworthy. Concludes by raising a number of questions that should be considered before deciding whether or not to use these new performance-based assessments. (MG)

Discusses several data collection procedures involved in four manageable writing classroom evaluation measures. (MG)

Explores conceptions of leadership from the perspectives of practitioners and scholars and discusses the role of librarians in leading others to sources of knowledge for understanding leadership. Highlights include how leaders are selected, the relationship between leaders and followers, evaluating leadership quality, and leadership from the…

Entertains some general ideas about what arts accountability might look like, keeping in mind the obvious though often overlooked premise that testing should always be in the interests of the children tested. States why accountability is good for reasons beyond its perceived political expediency and outlines some of the major features necessary…

Discusses factors from malice to humbuggery that complicate and sully the tenure decision and call into question the fundamental assumptions which sustain tenure within the academy. Offers recommendations intended to ensure integrity in the tenure decision. (PRA)

Speculates on why such little progress has been made regarding the effective application of educational simulation/games and suggests that the field's eclectic foundation has been good for its development but bad for its rigorous assessment. Antecedents for meaningful research and generating a body of literature are outlined. (Author/LRW)

Explores the successes and trials of Oakland Community College's (OCC) effort in designing and implementing a comprehensive Institutional Effectiveness (IE) assessment model. Introduces a brief overview of IE literature followed by a comparison of previous OCC effectiveness attempts to the current process. A model of IE highlights the cyclical…

Appraises the assumptions that drive standard evaluation methods and compares them to those assumptions that undergird more critical approaches to teaching. Presents an alternative teacher evaluation instrument and explains how it more accurately measures what is said and believed to be effective teaching. Offers statistical evidence supporting…

There is a reported association between thyroid disorders and Down syndrome, but is this association based on valid and reliable research evidence? We evaluated thyroid function test results of 110 healthy adults with Down syndrome to determine biochemical thyroid status. Approximately two thirds were biochemically euthyroid when assessed by…