Noting that multiage education continues to receive a great deal of interest as educators, legislators, and parents seek to find ways to improve educational experiences for all children, this book takes readers by the hand and guides them as they move from exploring the concept of multiage to the actual stages of implementation. As is consistent…

This report discusses alternate assessments that are to be used in accounting for the performance and progress of students with disabilities who do not participate in typical state assessments. Alternate assessments are data collection procedures used in place of the typical assessment when students cannot take standard forms of assessment. Four…

Designed for school administrators, policymakers, and others concerned about communications and education, this report first traces the ideas and political forces that led to establishment of the E-Rate. It then looks at the practical issues confronting school districts as they seek to seize the opportunities the E-Rate affords. After examining…

This paper asserts that rigorous research on the impacts of social programs to improve children's prospects are necessary but not sufficient, because too many programs are multidimensional, cannot or should not be standardized, evolve or adapt through time, require participants' active involvement, or are heavily dependent for success on good…

This paper reports on an evaluation of a unique 3-year program designed to support new teachers in a school district. The emphasis in the evaluation was on the participation of the multiple stakeholders in the evaluation process, which was endorsed by the teachers union, school district administrators, and entry-year teachers. The people who are…

This paper discusses students with disabilities who do not fit into large-scale traditional assessment systems, seeks to clarify what is meant by "gray areas of assessment," delineates the primary issues that surround and contribute to gray areas, and provides suggestions for developing fully inclusive systems. It provides brief case studies of…

Two articles are presented on the implementation of Reading Recovery in Maine. The first article, "Collaborative Efforts Can Make a Difference: The Development of Reading Recovery in Maine" articulates and shares the process which took place in Maine in the hope that it will assist interested stakeholders in other states in the…

This report from St. Louis Community College (Missouri) provides an update of the college's activities and outcomes in accordance with the North Central Association's (NCA) standards for institutional effectiveness. It also outlines the college's assessment operations for the next five years, identifying specific activities to develop the…

Due to the high stakes that my be attached to placement decisions, it is imperative that the placement process be as solid and defensible as possible. An integral part of the placement process is the identification and use of cut scores, the point(s) on the score scale that classify students into adjacent categories for placement decisions. This…

Describes procedures for writing an effective counseling curriculum guide to meet the individual needs of children, kindergarten through grade 12, based on the guide developed at the Vestavia Hills School System. Focuses on the importance of a developmental guide, special education and career preparation, and selection of appropriate content. (JAC)

The self-study process is seldom viewed as a central process of improvement and change. Experience at the Illinois College of Optometry, however, shows how the process can be regenerative to people and institutions. The process and its elements are outlined in some detail. (MSE)

Meta-analysis of Title I program evaluations shows the norm-referenced model overestimates positive effectiveness; while the regression-discontinuity design underestimates it. Potential biases include residual regression artifacts, attrition and time-of-testing problems in the norm-referenced design, and assignment, measurement, and data…

A workshop designed to assist local staff developers with the evaluation of their staff development programs is described. The intent of the workshop is to provide specific technical assistance for implementing a planned and consistent evaluation process. The workshop's goal is to allow a nonspecialist in evaluation to gather data necessary for…