This tool is a simplified version of the evaluation framework developed by Wenger, Trayner, and de Laat (2011), building upon Kirkpatrick (1976, 1994). These internationally recognized experts on professional learning and collaboration developed their value creation framework to address the dual challenges of attending to the diversity of types of…

State implementation of new standards (revising, adapting, and adopting new standards) is a significant undertaking. Such an effort at the state level requires extensive support, planning, and resources. Implementing new state standards also requires the support of multiple education leaders--governors, legislators, state departments of education,…

These days, Response to Intervention (RTI) is everywhere, and there are lots of claims about what RTI is and how to do it. At last, here's a book that helps you cut through the quackery and ensure that your approach to RTI represents the very best of what is known about assessment, instruction, and intervention. Author Margaret Searle provides you…

While there is consensus that institutions need to represent their educational effectiveness through documentation of student learning, the higher education community is divided between those who support national standardized tests to compare institutions' educational effectiveness, and those who believe that valid assessment of student…

This guide is designed to help districts and schools evaluate reform efforts related to the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA), including School Improvement Grants. It includes practical, how-to tips for conducting program evaluations, whether one takes a "do-it-yourself" approach or seeks outside assistance to evaluate reform…

The Office of Planning, Research and Evaluation (OPRE), a unit within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF), is responsible for advising the Assistant Secretary for Children and Families on increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of programs to improve the economic and social well-being of children and families. In collaboration…

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) becomes a management tool when it is used to administer programs proactively. The IEP can have an impact upon program effectiveness and student competency development when a systematic process of assessment, goal setting, planning, and evaluation is followed. (SK)

Claims that assessment is the process by which educators know if they are actually doing what they intend to do in the classroom. Presents an overview of the history, the present, and the future of educational assessment to enable readers working with communication assessment issues to make more informed decisions. (NH)

The applicability of conventional measurement techniques in the assessment and evaluation of a middle school educational program has been disputed. The objectives of this program include assisting students in the development of several areas. Among these are independence, healthy self concepts, viable ethical and value systems, socially…

When evaluating the effectiveness of an educational program, multiple matrix sampling is particularly effective and efficient when the goal of the evaluation is estimating group (as opposed to individual) performance. The technique is described in some detail, with its advantages and disadvantages, and examples of its application are given.…

This guide examines claims for 24 schoolwide programs-- programs that promise to improve student learning by changing the entire school. Focusing on quantitative achievement measures such as test scores, grades, and graduation rates, the report was prepared for educators and others to assist them in their investigation of different approaches to…

As presented, goal attainment scaling involves devising a set of goals with involved persons, assigning weights to these goals, developing a set of expected outcomes for each goal, scoring the outcomes, and calculating a summary score of the outcomes across the goals. (Author/DLS)

California's review process has been designed to judge the effects of the school program on students and staff and to identify opportunities for improving the program. Program reviews, which may be conducted by the state Department of Education, county or district personnel, or school staff, are developed primarily from observation of individual…

Shows how an elementary school's spelling program evaluation led to the formulation of a spelling policy reflecting the school's whole language approach to learning. (MM)

There are many resources available for supporting Title I or school-improvement processes, but many of them present a disjointed picture of the complicated process. This guidebook was developed to provide a coherent framework for planning educational improvement and can be used to support any school or district staff working to improve an…