Objectives: In the USA, 18% of school-aged young people are classified as obese, and rural populations appear to be particularly at risk. Achieving high levels of fitness reduces the risk of obesity and underlying health conditions. To better understand youth obesity trends and fitness levels, annual fitness testing ([FT], that is, surveillance)…

Scores on annual statewide achievement tests can provide parents, students, educators, and policymakers with valuable information--but only if students participate. This issue brief provides the background about recent increases in (and efforts to expand) the number of students opting out of statewide assessments, describes the information and…

The development, field testing, and analysis of one component of New Mexico's statewide evaluation system, a set of 18 objectives-based tests administered to high school seniors in 56 districts, are summarized. The focus of this component is on providing: (1) information to school districts about the performance of their seniors on certain…

The 1969-70 evaluation of 7 month migrant programs and 9 month enriched migrant programs validated the previous year's finding (1968-69) that migrant pupils in both programs continue to perform below grade level on standardized tests and below disadvantaged, nonmigrant Mexican American pupils in regular 9 month schools. The design of the 1970…

This text provides directors of instructional programs with an extensive overview of the evaluation process. In 25 chapters, the contents focus on the definition of evaluation, a rationale for its use, a list of tools used in the evaluation process, a delineation of the elements contained in a well-done evaluation, and some suggestions on ways…

The Kentucky state plan for the collection of data concerning the cognitive, affective and pscyhomotor needs of school children is discussed. The plan entails: (1) identification of the needs of learners to be served, (2) determination of the criticality of the learner needs that are identified by applying judgmental values, (3) establishment of…

Directors of educational projects need to be aware of the consequences their decisions may have for evaluation and appreciate the need for working closely with their evaluators from the earliest planning stage. Attempting to address the needs of project directors and evaluators, this guidebook deals with one central aspect of project…

Measuring cognitive achievement gains in project evaluation is dealt with. This guide provides those concerned with project evaluation with the basic tools for conducting technically sound, interpretable evaluation studies. Exotic designs are avoided and five basic models which appear feasible to implement in real-world settings are focused on.…

The concept of career education in the Dallas Independent School District maintains that each student should have the option of preparing for a neaningful, fulfilling career while enrolled in school. Career education programs are divided by grade level and stress career awareness (3-7), career exploration (7-9), and career preparation (10-12).…

Despite its widespread use in evaluation data analysis, statistical testing has come under persistent criticism resulting in calls for its rethinking, and even possible elimination (Carver, 1978, 1993). Saxon and Boylan issue a call "to strengthen developmental education research and to make it more accessible" (2003, p. 2). Among the types of…

This study seeks to determine what differences in readiness existed in Louisville, Kentucky children who had been exposed to various combinations of Head Start, Follow-Through and regular kindergarten. All first grade children in Louisville were tested with the Metropolitan Readiness Test during the first month of first grade. Data was analyzed…

This field procedures manual for community interviewers and site coordinators, one of a series of documents on the evaluation of the National Home Start program (NHS), describes specific testing procedures for collecting family data. A federally funded demonstration program, NHS is aimed at providing home-based services (such as health, education,…

The Colorado Learner Needs Assessment (CLNA) is described, with operational models for sampling, computer analysis and reporting. The rationale of the program is discussed, followed by its specifications (scope, reporting possibilities, precision and data format), development (meetings, letters, preliminary tryout, sampling and analysis plans,…

There are four steps in obtaining test data, each requiring planning and decision-making: assembling students, administering tests, scoring, and recording scores. In assembling students, two cautions are in order. First, for norm referenced tests, students in the treatment group should take the test at the same time of the year as the students in…

The project is an independent evaluation of a driver improvement program for unexceptional adult drivers, offered on a pilot basis in 1972-73 by Ford Motor Company to its employees. The program was conducted using four treatment groups which received different amounts of retraining (N=750). It was found that two treatments consisting of several…