Evaluated the impact of Smart Talk, a computer-based violence prevention program for adolescents. Control and intervention-group middle-school students completed assessments before and after program implementation. Results indicated that the intervention successfully diminished intervention students' beliefs supporting violence and increased…

Gives an overview of the Ball State University (Indiana) academic assessment program, from its origins through present and future efforts. Several current assessment activities are described--university-wide, in general education, and discipline-specific. Areas of strength in the program and challenges to conducting successful assessment are…

A survey of 701 medical-school administrators, medical-residency program directors, medical students and residents, and practicing physicians investigated the perceived clarity and validity of 44 medical school accreditation standards as indicators of the quality of undergraduate medical education. Predictive validity of some standards was also…

A study of an innovative home-school preventative project in Britain designed to work with families with children seen to be at risk of developing long-term behavior problems concluded that the project has potential for wider development, although short-term funding and inappropriate referrals inhibit its capacity to produce sustainable outcomes.…

Research on the hypothesized relationship between sexual orientation and suicide is limited. National or statewide data on frequency and causes of completed suicide in gay and lesbian people do not exist. Methodological limitations in research literature include lack of consensus on definition of key terms, nonrepresentative samples, and lack of…

A conceptual framework is offered for understanding the role of program review in college, particularly a community college. Such a framework should account for the following institutional factors: purpose of the review, stakeholder involvement, leadership support for review, organizational communication, degree of organizational centralization,…

Discusses Project YES, a model of urban programming that provides youth with a support structure wherein their voices about pressing social issues can be heard by a wider audience. Youths participate in project-based workshops in which they develop critical-thinking, problem-solving, leadership, and consensus-building skills. (GR)

Describes the various components of the Success for All Program (SFAP) and provides a detailed review of its effectiveness in improving the academic accomplishments of students placed at risk, including English-language learners and special education students. It also compares SFAP with Reading Recovery programs. Results of evaluations of 23 SFAP…

The seven articles of this special section explore evaluation in South Africa. Particular emphasis is placed on policy development in the areas of health, education, and housing and on efforts to alleviate the legacy of apartheid. Participative and quantitative efforts are described. (SLD)

Describes a web-based teaching practicum guidance model designed to support Taiwanese computer science student teachers with teaching support and updated information on new technological advances. Online discussion forums were developed to facilitate students' collaborative learning and reflective thinking. Examination of 29 student teachers…

A study analyzed factors affecting peer assessments of faculty quality and program effectiveness using the 1993 National Research Council graduate program survey. Results indicate determinants for faculty quality and program effectiveness are very similar. Further, programs in private institutions and/or institutions with more highly rated…

A study assessed an intensive fluency intervention for low-achieving at-risk beginning Spanish readers in grades 1-2. Data from 53 first- and second-graders in bilingual classrooms in southeast Texas indicated that implementing intensive reading fluency interventions in bilingual classrooms is feasible and valuable if conducted with fidelity and…

Presents criteria of good child care as revealed by international research studies of child care settings. Criteria discussed include: class size, teacher/child ratio, size and equipment of the classroom, teacher behavior, parent cooperation, and teacher qualifications. Also discusses whether such criteria are shared by teachers and parents. (TJQ)

Evaluation of a summer transition program at the University of Kansas found that, in general, participation did not have a significant effect on students' later grade point averages or retention rates. However, for students with lower academic preparation, there was a significant improvement in academic and social self-efficacy. Qualitative…

Contends that implications of Fantuzzo et al's study go beyond Head Start and pertains to other programs serving infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. Suggests that when considering policy implications of the study, two issues should not be ignored: (1) the child within the context of a broader society; and (2) the importance of collaboration in…