Evaluation is a critical component of continuous improvement in education. Robust evaluations enable engaged parties to determine program and intervention impact on key outcomes, identify areas for improvement, and guide future actions. Additionally, as educational systems increasingly focus on data-driven decisionmaking, evaluation becomes even…

To update its teaching and departmental review processes, Phillips Academy Andover, an independent boarding school in Massachusetts, commissioned RAND Corporation researchers to review the school's policies, conduct a literature review, interview other independent high schools, develop potential recommendations for revision of Andover's processes,…

Faced with significant budget challenges, many districts cannot afford to hire an outside consultant to conduct a formal evaluation of their gifted programs. As an interim solution, districts may wish to conduct their own in-house program evaluation. "Gifted Program Evaluation: A Handbook for Administrators and Coordinators" is designed to assist…

States, school districts, and schools across the country are increasingly implementing multi-tier systems of support (MTSS) to improve outcomes for all students. Kansas is no exception. The Kansas MTSS is designed to improve outcomes for all students by instituting system-level change across the classroom, school, district, and state. Such…

The National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) documents dimensions of quality in undergraduate education and provides information and assistance to colleges, universities, and other organizations to improve student learning. Its primary activity is annually surveying college students to assess the extent to which they engage in educational…

This article reports on a one-year networking program designed to increase the leadership of school principals in special education. Results of evaluation questionnaires and interviews with a sample of participants indicate heightened levels of awareness of special education "best practices," with indirect effects on programs for…

Results of a survey of 145 special education administrators in 27 states are presented under 4 headings: student identification practices; service delivery; student exit procedures; and program evaluation practices. Findings indicate student identification procedures are fairly well developed, whereas student exit and evaluation practices are less…

Contends that, in an age of decreased educational funding, it is more likely that art teachers must work with administrators who have little or no art training. Asserts that art teachers must educate the administrators about the value of educational art programs. Provides suggested strategies to accomplish this goal. (CFR)

The book discusses current issues and trends in special education programming at the secondary level. An introductory chapter by Cynthia L. Warger outlines service delivery program models and the range of curriculum content options. In Chapter 2, Janet Sansone focuses on the issue of accountability in secondary education as it relates to…

This manual presents recommended practices of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for Early Childhood (DEC) for evaluating early intervention and early childhood special education programs. The DEC recommended practices are intended to complement previously established guidelines for developmentally appropriate practices. This guide…

This book examines selected aspects of school social work program supervision in Iowa from a best practices framework. For each chapter, best practices are identified by referencing and synthesizing the experience base of program supervisors, the literature, and professional standards. Best practice statements are proposed for each component of…

Encouraged by evidence linking quality early care/education programs and improved student outcomes, a variety of school readiness programs and initiatives have been created. This report reviews and synthesizes evaluation studies conducted on early childhood interventions, focusing on programs emphasizing a school readiness goal. The report…

These guidelines present best educational practices designed to assist school districts in providing quality programs for students with severe disabilities. The guidelines are intended to serve as a self-assessment tool for school districts. State-operated programs for Oregon students who are trainable mentally retarded are to use the guidelines…

This monograph includes an analysis of current statements of standards and criteria, promotes professional dialogue concerning the meanings of NCATE standards and criteria, and advances the cause of national accreditation in teacher education. An introduction offers a statement of purposes, reviews the significance of the accreditation process,…

This resource manual provides guidelines for development, management, and evaluation of Florida school district programs for students with visual impairments. In each section rules are presented first and are in script type. General rules are followed by rules specific to programs for the visually impaired. Following the rules, recommended best…