National evaluations of quality aspects of vocational training programs (VTPs) in five European countries--Belgium, Germany, France, Greece, and Portugal--were reviewed to determine how VTP quality is currently being evaluated and identify a more coherent approach to evaluating VTPs. Special attention was paid to how existing evaluation studies…

Presented in this symposium reader are nine papers, four of which deal with the theory and impact of the Rasch model on language testing and five of which discuss final examinations in secondary schools in both general and specific terms. The papers are: "Introduction to Rasch Measurement: Some Implications for Language Testing" (J. J.…

A research study of the implementation of "good ideas" in 14 schools came to the conclusion that differences in school organization and climate cause differences in the success of school improvement. Specific aspects of organization and climate in these schools, called factors of school context, are the following: resources, incentives,…

A study identified strategies used in selected rural states for evaluating the effectiveness of vocational programs and services for handicapped and disadvantaged students. During the study, the researcher examined the documents used by 13 rural states to assess their vocational programs for handicapped and disadvantaged individuals. This…

A project was conducted to assess and improve existing field experiences to prepare future industrial arts teachers in Texas. The following activities were accomplished during the project: determination of current field experiences available to industrial arts preparation students in Texas schools; identification of model industrial arts teacher…

Entrepreneurship courses commonly use various kinds of group work, cooperative learning, study circles and study teams. A major challenge of this pedagogy is the unbiased grading of group members based on the accountability of individual performances. This paper provides an approach to using student peer assessment to provide feedback on…

This report presents data gathered during the 1973-74 school year on the Austin Independent School District (Austin, Texas) implementation of the Individually Guided Education Program (IGE). Classroom observation indicates on the whole that the 11 schools identified as IGE exhibit greater degrees of implementation of characteristics associated…

Written from the perspective of a relatively large urban school district and dealing primarily with high school-type programs, this handbook is designed for use by local school district practitioners of vocational education evaluation. Part I discusses the history, present status, and goals and objectives of vocational education. Included are…

Four federal programs were investigated for inconsistencies in awarding financial aid to college students: the Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, Basic Educational Opportunity Grants, College Work-Study Program, and National Direct Student Loan Program. Their methods for determining student need and their legislative histories are…

The development of the IDEA system, a survey concerning teacher effectiveness at Kansas State University (KSU) is described. The system originated at KSU during the 1968-69 academic year as a means for investigating the effectiveness of teaching and for improving instruction. A discussion concerning its purpose and rationale is included. The…

Ninth grade Elementary Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I evaluation results in reading and English-writing projects were compared, using the RMC Model A with local empirical norms, Model A with national interpolated norms, and Model B. The Comprehensive Tests of Basic Skills (CTBS)--Total Reading and Total Language subtests--were administered…

The study attempted to determine the feasibility of performing a cost-effectiveness analysis comparing the cooperative method to methods which do not use work experience in vocational training. Twelve school districts in Minnesota, North Carolina, and Ohio provided data for the study, involving the design of data collection instruments for cost…

A survey of 42 statewide assessment programs was conducted to determine: (1) The status of statewide assessment programs in the United States when classified by purpose, authority, methodology, and scope; (2) Are there any differences within these classifications for programs which are aimed primarily at state-level decision making as opposed to…

This report examines issues related to the performance indicators used for international comparisons of Australia's vocational education and training (VET) system. Chapter 2 examines main sources of international comparisons of VET and main features of indicator frameworks used for comparisons. Chapter 3 presents an outline of these two main…

The development of a complex, highly computerized system of performance indicators by the State University of New York provides the means to monitor internal progress, report to a skeptical public, and compare the system's performance with a national sample of institutions. The system is described here, and the performance indicators and data…