Reviews the development of Recovery Reading. Addresses two questions: (1) which features of the program embody Vygotskian notions? and (2) how effective is the program at improving literacy skills? Finds that Reading Recovery increased reading attainment and argues that future research should address the sociocultural context of the program. (DSK)

This study estimates the economic costs of an enhanced Employee Assistance Program (EAP) intervention at a large midwestern EAP that serves 90 worksites. Results specify developmental and implementation costs and provide benchmark cost estimated for other EAPs that may be considering enhanced services. (SLD)

Describes an effort to evaluate a preschool drug prevention program using alcohol-related expectancies as an outcome measure. Alcohol-related expectancies of participants at three years posttreatment did not differ from those of a comparison group. Explores theoretical and methodological issues in program development and evaluation. (MKA)

Peggy Farber's stories (in the March 1998 "Kappan") about a few individuals at Boston Renaissance Charter School have a place in evaluating the program. However, the real story cannot be drawn from a few isolated, highly selective anecdotes. A balanced evaluation would have framed the discussion around the schools' progress with…

Analyzes overall effectiveness and efficiency of Chicago public elementary schools, evaluating performance changes following fundamental school reforms of 1988-89. Some schools are effective regarding student achievement at certain points in time; others are efficient in adding value (improving disadvantaged students' performance). Some have both…

Reviews 77 empirical and case studies of school-based management (SBM) implementations reported between 1985 and 1995 to determine typical obstacles and promising ameliorative strategies. There is no firm evidence of SBM's effects on students. Administrative-control SBM would probably produce the least amount of school change. Community-control…

Proposes an alternative to strategic and other school-improvement planning: collaborative intervention process (CPI) for initiating schoolwide change. The five-phase process includes planning, assessing, executing, implementing, and evaluating. CPI strategy, which stresses broader stakeholder involvement and frequent intercommunications, should be…

Outlines the principles and procedures of an organizational communication audit as a measure of the effectiveness of personnel management in elementary and secondary schools, examining the principal tools used and the benefits that this approach offers to school management teams. (Author/MSE)

Reviewed evaluation studies of school-based drug prevention programs published from 1993-99 to identify significant program features that could influence the success of drug prevention education. Results found that programs components varied significantly. Programs employing a social-influence model varied in their effectiveness depending on the…

A study of 4,014 high school graduates 1 year after graduation found that career and technical education participants earned more, experienced greater relevance of secondary to postsecondary education, and felt better prepared for work. Internship participants felt prepared for work but had lower earnings and fewer quarters worked. Improvements in…

Presents a planning guide that can be used to improve community-based evaluation. The guide consists of a set of questions to be discussed with all stakeholders. It covers issues of the nature and purpose of the evaluation, research methods and approaches, participation and decision making, conflict resolution, and dissemination and use of…

Program evaluation uses hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to evaluate 99 ethnically diverse second-graders' growth in oral reading fluency using curriculum-based measurement (CBM). Results reveal that first-grade reading performance significantly predicted initial second-grade reading performance. Argues that the use of HLM with normative CBM…

Tests an asthma education program in 204 Latino families with an asthmatic child. The curriculum was culturally-tailored, and all participants received education on understanding asthma, preventing attacks, and managing asthma. Outcomes included changes in asthma knowledge and home environment asthma management procedures. Asthma knowledge…

In a randomized, controlled trial, patients with joint diseases and concomitant treatment with NSAIDs and diuretics received systematic education. The intervention group was given information focusing on awareness of drug interactions and encouragement of self-adjustment of treatment. Results reveal that the intervention group achieved greater…

Evaluated a Writing for Publication program aimed at enabling academic writers to improve their public output. Monitoring of individuals throughout the program provided evidence of success in terms of "hard" outcomes, such as journal publications and conference presentations, and "soft" outcomes, such as increased confidence and motivation,…