An interjudge reliability test was conducted to evaluate questionnaires used in the surveillance of residential care institutions in Israel. Results from 32 institutions (evaluated by two surveyor teams--one social worker and 1 nurse per team) and the variance in reliability were used to improve the questionnaires and their administration. (SLD)

Family caregivers (n=30), mostly daughters caring for parents with dementia, participated in an education and support program. Responses from 24 after three months showed the following outcomes: practical caregiving knowledge, increased understanding, awareness of community services, fellowship with other caregivers, and awareness of their own…

Discusses assessment with a focus on the speech communication discipline. Addresses the challenge communication administrators and educators continually face. (PA)

Introduces the special section on the Student Paper Contest and the Case Competition sponsored by the Canadian Evaluation Society to foster the development of evaluators. The articles are written by former participants and include reflections on the value of the competition for evaluator development. (SLD)

Describes one educator's experiences with developing core K-8 curriculum standards that reflect the four pillars of the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the dimensions of the General Directory for Catechesis. Standards were applied in author's diocese. Also describes pilot year for program and offers some qualitative feedback. (NB)

PROJECT BLUE was funded during the first phase of the Safe Schools/Healthy Students initiative and proposed to provide students in its District with a range of services to improve school safety, decrease school violence, decrease alcohol and drug use, and improve student mental health. Selected results are highlighted and lessons learned from the…

Discusses the great diversity and lack of consistency in dance teacher preparation and certification programs, examining K-12 licensure (state certification, vocational certification, and endorsement); certification of private studios and schools of dance (certification and registry); current progress toward certification; and the five-phase…

This paper discusses ways to evaluate processes, describes methods of gathering information, and presents an outline for developing a continuous improvement model. Such assessment tools, as opposed to traditional "satisfaction surveys," can examine the service process and provide institutions with useful information to use as a catalyst for change…

Describes the development, implementation, and evaluation of a theory based coping skills program for people with alcoholism. Based on Shiffman and Wills' (1985) Stress Program Process model, it helped clients effectively respond to conditions that contributed to negative affect and create life- enhancing experiences. Evaluation involved social…

Presents a theoretical framework to guide community career system evaluation activities. This evaluation framework is intended to be comprehensive in scope to provide assistance to all school and community programs that are attempting to improve career development outcomes for students. (Contains 64 references, 2 figures, and 1 appendix.) (GCP)

Notes that program evaluations have many dimensions and that systematic efforts to evaluate an enrichment or intervention program require much decision making. Discusses factors affecting choice of evaluation measure, focuses for evaluation measures, factors affecting data collection (including family variables, screening versus psychometric…

This paper examines issues involved in conducting evaluations when participation by the target groups, typically minorities and disadvantaged groups, may put them in jeopardy. Argues that participation by target groups as cooperative partners throughout the evaluation is a way of addressing this dilemma. (SLD)

Describes the Broward County (Florida) Research and Evaluation Department's assessment of a Sylvan Learning Systems remedial reading program employed in two district schools during 1993-94. Sylvan staff adequately equipped both sites, appropriately used diagnostic tests for placing students, implemented motivation and direct-instruction…

Discusses the new Program Performance Standards for Head Start, including the inclusion of guidelines for Early Head Start, the integration of program services, and family partnerships. Examines the impact of new standards on non-Head Start programs. Includes a quiz for early childhood programs to assess how their program rates on the new…

The presentation of case study research in this book is based on a disciplined, qualitative inquiry into a single case, rather than quantitative methodologies or case studies for instructional purposes. Practical suggestions are given for gathering and organizing data and for data interpretation and reporting. (SLD)