Explains how the Arlington Independent School District (Texas) complied with the mandates of the Local Government Records Act. Topics include evaluation and needs, software selection, inventory and retention schedules, managing forms and records, standardized identification systems, finding specific records, costs and destroying obsolete records.…

This article recommends the use of professional portfolios in preservice preparation of teachers of students with behavioral disorders and describes the graduate program in behavioral disorders at Western Carolina University (North Carolina). Program development involved determination of competencies and a format for individual project…

Six prominent educators discuss barriers to achieving quality authentic assessment and the feasibility of implementing authentic assessment on a national basis. Points out the importance of using multiple assessments, the lack of a definition of authentic assessment, problems in developing quality assessments, and the immense cost of implementing…

This case study demonstrates the use of functional assessment to improve the classroom behavior of a 10 year old with mild mental retardation. The process involved conducting a brief prefunctional assessment, identifying variables for hypothesis testing, and developing and implementing an intervention based on the hypotheses. (DB)

Presents a study comparing two measures of general education outcomes, focusing on the validity of these instruments as measures of program effectiveness. Challenges the perceived advantages of standardized testing as measures of general education outcomes, recommending qualitative, institution-specific approaches relying on student and faculty…

This chapter gives an overview of the design and statistical and psychometric analysis methods of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The evolution of the NAEP continues to provide challenges to statisticians and psychometricians, as demonstrated in the expansion of the NAEP to the assessment of individual states. (SLD)

The present author's experiences teaching a graduate course on evaluation for those who train adults in various settings illustrate how principles of adult learning made the course practical. Outcomes from class experiences with an actual program evaluation are described for the students, evaluation client, and teacher. (SLD)

African-American children are minimally represented in gifted programs due to misconceptions of giftedness, problems associated with standardized testing, perceptions of African-American students' low achievement, and lack of awareness of characteristics of African-American achievers. Individually focused identification of gifted African-American…

This paper argues that efficacy of early intervention must be assessed in relation to both program and extra-program variables. A framework outlining five classes of independent variables and two classes of outcomes to be considered in efficacy research is presented, and regression and path analytic techniques are suggested as tools for addressing…

Twenty special educators who taught pupils with mild and moderate disabilities implemented curriculum-based measurement and were periodically assessed for accuracy and given corrective feedback. Analyses indicated that systematic observation and feedback were associated with improvement in accuracy, especially on more difficult aspects of…

A survey of over 150 baccalaureate, master's, and doctoral programs in social work investigated the kinds of program outcomes assessment systems used. Frequency of use of each system is examined, comparison is made across levels, and implications for social work education at each level are discussed. (Author/MSE)

How state agencies have addressed privatization in a service setting (municipal wastewater treatment) is discussed. The implications for evaluations of many types of programs, particularly those of local service programs regulated by the states, are explored. Data from a national survey of state environmental regulatory agencies are highlighted.…

Reviews the current status of assessment programs in higher education, arguing that comprehensive assessment programs will increase the likelihood that minority college students will persist and graduate. Components and design of comprehensive assessment programs created for this purpose are described. Three recommendations for culturally…

Discusses a study conducted by the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) which examined the federally funded research system and the role of data for decision making in research policy. Highlights include data needs; research expenditures and personnel; the research process; measuring the outcomes of research; and the research evaluation process.…

Discusses problems of communication apprehension (CA) among developmental students. Explains types of CA, reviews methods of individual assessment among developmental students, and describes a structured alleviation curriculum. Provides step-by-step instructions for employing the CA alleviation techniques of systematic desensitization, cognitive…