Professional literature indicates that peer programs in the 1990s were widely used to address a variety of health education content. The literature shows a paucity of peer program evaluations. The increased focus of peer education programs illustrates the importance of conducting evaluations to establish whether these programs are cost effective,…

Discusses how to develop an effective assessment process for learning communities, including initial considerations, the value of student involvement, questions guiding the study, data management, and considerations for future studies. (EV)

Presents a model of comprehensive guidance and counseling integrated within a business context. Concludes that using program evaluation to position counseling as a business with effective service products may enhance the long-term viability of comprehensive guidance and counseling programs. (Contains 48 references.) (GCP)

This paper describes the results of activity therapy programs with psychiatrically impaired inmates at a maximum security prison. Results include the programs which were felt to be of benefit and enjoyable, and those which prepared them for the future. Recommendations for initiation of a similar program are offered. (Author)

Reviews literature on assessment and assessment of student retention programs, then presents a six-step conceptual model of assessment that is applicable to cross-cutting retention programs. Uses the literature to support the presentation of four simultaneously present retention paradigms of what is valued and can be stated as desired retention…

A Wisconsin program aimed to amplify the achievement benefits of class-size reduction by requiring supplementary pupil services, a standards-based curriculum, and related staff development and accountability. In one urban school district implementing the program, the program's achievement gains were marginalized by high per-student costs and…

Conceptual issues related to dropping out, student engagement, and school completion are raised. Thirteen criteria are described as guidelines for designing, evaluating, and documenting programs to enhance successful school completion for all students. Recommendations for future research and practice include implementation of interventions,…

Outlines some nonrandomized constructed comparison strategies that can be used to evaluate interventions for children and illustrates their use for outcome variables that would be expected to change over age if no treatment were given. The proposed strategy consists of determining an expected age function for the dependent variable using pretest…

Assessed the effectiveness of a strategy for obtaining active written parental consent for the outcome evaluation of a drug abuse prevention program in 16 middle schools in 10 school districts. Discusses methodological and practical implications of the strategy, which was more cost effective than some previous approaches, but still involved 20% of…

Poses the ethical challenges involved when an evaluation report is being misinterpreted to serve political ends through program cancellation and considers the internal evaluator's responsibility and effectiveness. Commentaries reflect on codes of behavior and the position of an evaluator with respect to program management. (SLD)

Examines the unique experiences of a university-based Special Student Services TRIO program from the perspectives of program staff. Staff members considered their program effective because it was responsive, synergistic, supportive, and successful. Explores these four attributes as causative factors leading to the program's status as one of the…

Incubators in the Classroom is an extension program designed to teach fourth-graders about egg hatching. More than 15,000 Indiana students have used the learning materials, which include incubators, lesson guides, and CD-ROM learning guides. The Purdue extension service is in the process of conducting critical evaluation of the program. (SK)

A review of the history of diversity management resulted in a call for a new agenda that encourages more collaboration between scholars and administrators, increased researcher observation of workplace reactions to diversity management initiatives, more informative and rigorous case studies, and more third-party evaluations of diversity management…

Reports on an evaluation of the first counseling service in Britain for children of divorce. Focuses on the qualitative outcomes of the counseling evaluation: namely, the children's and mother's satisfaction with the counseling, and the counselor's opinion of its success. Conclusions of study and implications for practice are discussed.…

Assesses the current status of practicum training in counselor education programs accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Research Educational Programs. Findings and implications for counselor training are discussed. (Author)