In this article, the author talks about program evaluation, a strategy commonly used by instructional leaders that can help school business officials improve their budget process. As districts struggle to develop budgets in these challenging economic times, school business officials might consider turning to program evaluation for help. Program…

New, simple methods for applying benefit-cost analysis in situations where the variables are nonmonetary are discussed. The approach involves handling nonmonetary variables by converting the problems into questions regarding whether a nonmonetary return is worth more or less than a given dollar cost. The article codifies what good decision makers…

Described back-end synthesis as the creation and integration of the secondary intervention required for efficient and cost-effective implementation of performance improvement programs. Involving analysis, design, evaluation, revision, and implementation, this process is related to front-end analysis, and a sample application in a performance…

In "Holding Accountability to Account: How Scholarship and Experience in Other Fields Inform Exploration of Performance Incentives in Education"--a paper presented at the National Center on Performance Incentives research to policy conference in February--Richard Rothstein, a research associate at the Economic Policy Institute, argues educational…

This monograph provides a theoretical substantiation for benefit-cost analysis and cost-effectiveness analysis in school system planning. Nine examples of decision-making situations are presented. A simple case of a single objective to be attained with one plan being selected from a set of proposed plans with no resource constraints evolves into a…

A methodological framework is presented for representing tradeoffs among alternative combinations of training and aiding for personnel in complex situations. In general, more highly trained people need less aid, and those with less training need more aid. Balancing training and aiding to accomplish the objectives of the system in a cost effective…

This interim report describes the development of program implementation and cost studies for Year II of the process evaluation of Project Developmental Continuity (PDC), a Head Start demonstration program aimed at providing educational and developmental continuity between children's Head Start and primary school experiences. Specific areas focused…

This paper examines comparative educational program evaluation. Suggested evaluative criteria and evaluation techniques and their weaknesses are discussed. An evaluation formula is proposed, and an example of its operation is provided. (DG)

A needs assessment of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is presented. It deals with cost, design and technical issues, and utility. Suggestions include cost reduction via assessment schedule cutbacks and re-use of released NAEP exercises; and a shift from federal to private funding by selling NAEP exercises with interpretative…

Intended for planners and providers of welfare-to-work and other employment and training programs, this guide explains the steps entailed in conducting a cost analysis. The following topics are discussed in the book's six chapters: use of cost analysis before programs and during their implementation; basics of conducting a cost analysis (issue of…

Developed for application in Air Force weapons systems training programs, a research project investigated the methods, procedures, and data available for conducting cost and training effectiveness analyses (CTEA). The primary objective of the project was to develop a user-oriented procedure for early formulation of training programs that can be…

This long-range system entails the development of programs in the areas of educational goals and objectives, accounting and budgeting, and curriculum design. Ongoing programs of implementation and evaluation are an important feature. (DLG)

This report discusses the many issues that need to be considered as states and districts begin to design and implement alternate assessments, which are used for students with severe cognitive delays or multiple disabilities or students who require such significant accommodations that the validity of the test would be compromised. The report…

The major objective of this study is to identify a methodology that will help educators in marketing to efficiently manage the design, impact, and cost of case studies. It is my intention is to examine the impact of case study characteristics in relation to the degree of learner involvement in the learning process. The author proposes that…