The programs of Planned Variation in Head Start and Follow Through are described in regard to their history, the models of early childhood education included in each, and the results found in the first major evaluations of the programs. Results from the studies are tentative but appear to provide milestones in understanding the relationships…

Aimed at persons planning and implementing strategies for documenting school improvements, this paper is comprised of four sections. The first section distinguishes between national problems in education and federal issues in education (a distinction considered necessary for planning evaluations and establishing priorities for federally sponsored…

Some of the major issues related to planning evaluations of federal human services national demonstration programs are discussed. Barriers to conducting evaluations are discussed for the policy level and cross-site and within-site evaluation contexts. Among the proposed solutions is the use of an explicit programmatic developmental sequence. (SLD)

The history of the efforts of the U.S. Congress to obtain evaluation data and reports for Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Title I, projects is one of delay and frustration. Prior to the 1974 amendments to the ESEA, evaluation was negligible, not clearly defined, and not comparable across school districts. The Education Amendments of…

The Comprehensive Child Development Program (CCDP), enacted by Congress in 1988, provides intensive, comprehensive, integrated, and continuous support to preschool children from low-income families to enhance their intellectual, social, and physical development. It also provides needed services to parents and household family members to enhance…

This paper examines vintage (cohort), environmental, and structural problems associated with youth employment, and discusses strategies for improving job opportunities. Evaluates effects of the Elementary Secondary Education Act, Vocational Education Act, Youth Entitlement Demonstration, Supported Work Demonstration, and Job Corps. (JCD)

Two approaches for identifying, evaluating, and disseminating materials are discussed. One is the National Diffusion Network and its Program Effectiveness Panel, and the other is the Committee on Education and Human Resources, a new interagency effort with potential for examining a large body of generally underutilized mathematics and science…

This annual report describes activities under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (as amended) from October 1, 1989, through September 30, 1990. The report presents activities by each section under General Provisions and by each of seven Titles. An executive summary highlights specific activities. These include; continuation of Rehabilitation Services…

This paper presents a discussion of issues raised in the evaluation of Project Follow Through reported by Abt Associates. The paper suggests that many of the problems inherent in the design of both the program and the evaluation stem from the underlying assumption that one educational model could be found which would best alleviate the educational…

The case for an in-depth evaluation of many federal education programs is argued, particularly those providing site-specific information capable of informing program improvement. The reauthorization of the Office of Educational Research and Improvement (OERI) offers an opportunity for the U.S. Department of Education to play a leadership role in…

The Star Schools Assistance Program has been funding activities since 1988. It provides projects with seed money to develop distance learning programming and equip sites. In addition, Star Schools has served as a focal point for demonstrating innovative uses of technology to advance educational opportunity and improvement. This paper represents…

The Youth Incentive Entitlement Pilot Projects were designed to test whether guaranteed part-time jobs during the school year and full-time jobs in the summer would induce economically disadvantaged youths to remain in or return to school. The General Accounting Office (GAO) found that most worksites provided adequate experiences. Others, however,…

One of a series of special studies by Project Baseline, a national effort requested by Congress to gather information about vocational education and manpower training, the report traces the career education movement, beginning with a few isolated State and local activities in the mid-1960's and following it through the decade as it has become…