There is a growing disillusion with social science evaluation and the role it has played in the conduct of massive social programs. In retrospect, it appears that the social science evaluations of the past decade were undertaken with impossibly high ambitions and relied upon restrictive assumptions concerning the functions that evaluation serves…

Discusses a government report that claims that government decision making has improved since federal agencies have been required to submit any proposed action in the form of an environmental impact statement for comments by the public and other agencies. (MLH)

The new director of the National Institute of Education, Thomas K. Glennan, Jr., describes the institute and its functions. (PG)

The President's proposal to establish a Federally financed foundation to stimulate academic reform has produced interesting ideological and political alignments. (Editor)

Describes a Government reorganization plan proposed by President Nixon that would make the present Office of Education part of a new department of human resources. (Author)

The author reviews the history of federal input in special education and cites the Reagan administration's attempts to decrease funding for special education services. Senator J. Randolph's beliefs about the need for a strong federal role is noted. (CL)

Discusses how recent changes in federal policies have adversely affected cities. Modifications of the state block grant system, tax laws, reductions in federal support for welfare programs, and a massive federal debt have all hurt urban economies. (AM)

In this interview, John Carr, the executive director of the 1980 White House Conference on Families, discusses some of the conference participants and proceedings and some of its major recommendations and intended follow-up activities to promote a "family perspective" in government and industry policymaking. (SJL)

Replies to Schlossman's (1978) critique of federal initiative in parent education. Examines the type of criticism illustrated in Schlossman, evaluates the accuracy of his claims, and presents an alternative view of the parent-child development center programs criticized by Schlossman. (Author/RH)

Provides overview, background, vision, and goals of a report from the Advisory Committee on Services for Families with Infants and Toddlers. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala pledged to use the guidelines presented to help establish "Early Head Start," a new support and services program for families with…

Six papers discuss the increasing role of federal Offices of Inspectors General (OIGs) in program evaluation. This issue presents an overview of such inspections, case studies from three federal agencies, and a review of questions and concerns about inspections by OIGs. (SLD)

Prior to its election to office in 2007, the Australian Labor Party announced a commitment to introduce Trade Training Centres (TTCs) into all Australian secondary schools as an initiative of its Education Revolution. TTCs were proposed as a key element of Federal Labor's education and training policy that aimed to manage future risks to…

"Independent Research and Development" for the Defense Department costs United States taxpayers about one billion dollars a year. Facts about the program are hard to uncover, but two members of Cornell University's Program on Science, Technology, and Society have investigated the program and conclude that Congress should exert greater control.…

This document contains witness testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine problems in the partnership of Medicare and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO's). Opening statements are included from committee chairman Claude Pepper and from Representative Lawrence J. Smith. Two panels of witnesses address…