This article challenges the notion that the comprehensive community initiative (CCI) is a singularly urban intervention strategy by comparing a rural comprehensive initiative with the literature on urban CCIs. Characteristics of CCIs in urban settings are discussed and compared with Warren Family Institute (WFI), a demonstration project in rural…

This report provides initial results of Illinois' Shifting Gears Initiative that operated between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2009. This mixed method (qualitative and quantitative) evaluation sought to accomplish three goals: (1) to assess program and student outcomes for two models (adult education and developmental education) for two target groups…

Effective January 1, 2001, New York State enacted the Expanded Syringe Access Demonstration Program (ESAP), allowing syringes to be sold in pharmacies without a prescription or dispensed through doctors, hospitals, and clinics to adults. A concern in the assessment of ESAP is its effects on syringe disposal practices. Syringe use data regarding…

This study explored the relationship between housing conditions and the adequacy of the physical care of children. The sample included 106 caregivers who were participating in a neglect prevention demonstration project in a low-income, inner-city neighborhood. Children who lived with caregivers who had unsafe housing conditions were less likely to…

This article describes the evaluation of two family group decision-making programs administered under the California Title IV-E Waiver Demonstration Project. This is the only evaluation using random assignment to examine FGDM. Overall, results did not indicate more positive outcomes for children receiving the intervention, but did indicate that…

In February 2008, the School Choice Demonstration Project (SCDP) issued its first report on the fiscal impact of the Milwaukee Parental Choice Program (MPCP) on taxpayers in Milwaukee and the state of Wisconsin. There are two reasons to update the 2008 report. First, the figures will naturally change with the continuing growth of the voucher…

Gifted students (N=115) in grades 6-12 participated in the Symposium for the Arts, a model program allowing hands-on experiences with professional artists. Significant positive attitude changes toward the arts were revealed, and student evaluations of the symposium were overwhelmingly positive. (CL)

A questionnaire was designed to solicit information from foster parents about their need of and desire for training, their suggestions on program content, and their perceptions about personnel for training foster parents. Questionnaire data, results of a pilot workshop, and curriculum demonstration evaluations were used to construct a training…

Although random assignment is generally the preferred methodology in impact evaluations, it raises numerous ethical concerns, some of which are addressed by securing participants' informed consent. However, there has been little investigation of how consent is obtained in social experiments and the amount of information that can be conveyed--and…

This article explores the statistical methodologies used in demonstration and effectiveness studies when the treatments are applied across multiple settings. The importance of evaluating and how to evaluate these types of studies are discussed. As an alternative to standard methodology, the authors of this article offer an empirical binomial…

The purpose of this paper is to describe experiences evaluating the effectiveness of the Mathematicians and Education Reform (MER) Forum, a network of research mathematicians interested in educational issues. After a brief description of MER, three traditional evaluation models are considered to illustrate shortcomings found with using these…

Presents a community analysis plan used at the University of Colorado to develop a graduate-level community health nursing program. Examines a model that describes different possibilities for including the aggregate in community health nursing programs. States that community health nursing will be strengthened by developing associations between…

Discusses a project that was to construct an empirical description of a model employer cooperative education program. (JOW)

A 5-year study of the Saturation Work Initiative Model (2290 participants, 2260 controls), which requires welfare recipients to work, showed that it increased employment and reduced welfare payments. However, income from increased employment did not offset the loss in welfare income. (SK)

The final report summarizes activities over an 8-year period of a research, development and demonstration center for the education of handicapped children. An introductory section focuses on the history and administrative organization of the program. Brief summaries of 23 projects follow, with information on purpose, history, research activities…