A shift in the priorities set down in the Teacher Corps' rules increases the amount of time and attention paid to local projects rather than to large programs. Three Teacher Corps task forces convened to study the implications of the new rules and the realities of local project operation. The reports of the task forces are contained in this…

This report records the development and validation by Abt Associates, Inc. of utilization materials developed to accompany the two U.S. Office of Education film series, Jackson Junior High and Dial A-L-C-O-H-O-L. The first section describes the process by which the nine project products were developed. These products include the following: (1) a…

This review of a previous article (TM 503 836), concludes that: (1) the evaluation methodology was straightforward; (2) simpler data analysis would have yielded the same conclusions; and (3) exclusion of many experimental schools from data analysis and use of post hoc matching and covariance produced misleading results. (CP)

Demonstrates the criterion validity of the "Oral Language Manual" that is part of the Cultural Linguistic Approach, a component of the National Follow Through Program. (RL)

Briefly summarizes the development of programs for young handicapped children primarily through the Bureau of Education for the Handicapped (BEH), surveys seven nationally validated models for educating young, handicapped children, reviews characteristics of exemplary programs, and discusses the replication of one exemplary program, particularly…

Responding to doubts about the validity of test results that showed the Pittsburgh School District's school improvement project to be highly successful, the district validated its results by administering a different test to a representative sample of students in secure conditions. (MCG)

Issues pertaining to the documentation of positive outcomes for severely handicapped learners as a function of their educational programs are addressed, and the value of the general evaluative concept of educational validity is emphasized. Issues related to the current overreliance on the single-subject experimental model are also discussed. (SEW)

Idaho is one of eight states to offer teacher certification in dance. In 1975, committees were appointed to revise Idaho's certification standards. A progressive certification program was developed. Program approval is granted by a state accreditation team, based on the National Association of State Directors of Teacher Education and Certification…

A vacuum exists in the systematic collection of data on Continuing Education for Women (CEW). CEW programs must become accountable by maintaining records to demonstrate user patterns and program effectiveness. The author outlines specific suggestions for assessment, evaluation, and research; three areas which are integral to the mission of CEW…

Explores need for development of validation and certification procedures. Performance measures used for these procedures must come from on-job experiences. Validity of measures depends on similarity of participant's performance to job exercises. Outlines how to develop reliable job performance measures necessary for job certification and…

This editorial addresses issues in the social validity of curriculum content for children with severe disabilities and notes the empirical validation of educational practices over the past 15 years. It also introduces four papers comprising a special feature titled "Meaningful Outcomes for Students with Severe Disabilities." (DB)

This letter reports on a research study in which five students (initially identified as severely mentally retarded and/or autistic) were tested with and without the use of facilitated communication while facilitators were prevented from hearing the test questions. Positive results for four of the students raise issues about accurate educational…

Defines the activities that distinguish successful faculty development programs and describes a survey completed in 1998 by faculty development officers at 130 randomly selected community colleges. The author profiles those responsible for faculty development, summarizes the extent that each development activity is used, and articulates the need…

In this study we investigate a strategy for engaging high school mathematics teachers in an "initial" examination of their teaching in a way that is nonthreatening and at the same time effectively supports the development of teachers' pedagogical content knowledge [Shulman (1986). "Educational Researcher," 15(2), 4-14]. Based on the work…

In this article, a new method is presented and implemented for deriving a scale of socioeconomic status (SES) from international survey data using a multilevel Bayesian item response theory (IRT) model. The proposed model incorporates both international anchor items and nation-specific items and is able to (a) produce student family SES scores…