This guide begins with background information useful to understanding Illinois' framework for implementation and evaluation of Programs of Study. It starts with a visual depiction of the relationships between activity at the federal, state and local levels that evolved to the creation of Illinois' Career Cluster Model. This Model, which is based…

This issue of "The Evaluation Exchange" describes new developments in evaluating advocacy and policy change efforts that attempt to inform or influence public policy at the local, state, or federal levels. Heather B. Weiss introduces the themes in this issue in "From the Director's Desk," examining how evaluation of advocacy…

This article introduces the issue of articles on research assessments and rankings. It focuses on the British Research Assessment Exercises (RAEs) and New Zealand's Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF). It contrasts these with systems that are not tied to funding formulas and emphasise quality enhancement rather than quality assurance. It…

An evaluation was made of secondary and postsecondary vocational-technical education in North Dakota to review progress since the passage of Public Law 101-392 in that state. Some of the findings of the postsecondary evaluation are the following: (1) between 1991 and 1993, a unique statewide tech prep initiative was begun and is in its second…

In 1996, the Florida State Board of Community Colleges conducted a review of English as a Second Language (ESL) programs in the state's community colleges to determine the status of instruction for degree-seeking Limited English Proficient (LEP) students and make recommendations for institutional and state-level policies. The process included a…

In order to provide specialists and families with regular feedback on client change, to enhance the clinical decision-making skills of family specialists, and to provide target groups with information related to program effectiveness, a 12-week plan to improve outcome measures and evaluation protocol in a preservation and reunification program was…

The Bryan Independent School District's (Texas) Parent Education Partnership Program (PEPP) is designed to "empower all families through information, training, and support to enhance the parent-child relationship within the context of the home, school, and community to assure healthy, productive members of society." The 1994-1995 program…

This digest discusses the use of benchmarking as a strategy for assessing and improving efficiency and productivity of administrative processes and instructional models in colleges and universities. Benchmarking, developed by the Xerox Corporation in the 1980s, is defined as an ongoing, systematic process for measuring and comparing the work…

This report discusses the findings from two case studies of state use of discretionary funds under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part B. The two states involved in the study were Michigan and Wisconsin. Documents and interviews were used to gather detailed descriptive information from both states regarding: (1) the…

This paper deals with the need to redefine and comprehensively restructure teacher education programs, emphasizing what teachers can best learn, in what contexts, and at what stages of their cognitive and social development as professionals. The report is organized into 5 parts: Part 1 concentrates on what schools should do that they are not…

In March and April of 1992, 60 representatives of state-funded workplace education programs in New York attended day-long regional workshops to identify ways of improving program planning and evaluation methods. After the workshops, the participants returned to their home programs, organized local evaluation teams, and developed action plans to…

This is a checklist for use by science coordinators, school principals, science supervisors, and teachers in identifying strengths and weaknesses of science programs in grades five through eight. It can also be used by science coordinators during school visits. This guide contains space for recording information concerning: school name and…

The Engineering Technologies Division of the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology (NAIT) in Canada has developed a systems approach to program review called Competency Profile Development (CPD). This approach utilizes a combination of organizational communication, project management, management-by-objectives, a modified Developing A Curriculum…

This report is the self-study of the Associate in Occupational Studies (AOS) in Culinary Arts program offered by the Hotel, Culinary Arts, and Tourism Department at Schenectady County Community College (New York). The self-study was conducted to support the department's application for initial accreditation of the Culinary Arts program with the…

Achieving good quality in Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) training is hampered by the lack of a common definition of quality. Five ideas have been consistent in definitions: targeting programs; long-term, in-depth training; basic education; work skills training; and supportive services and guidance. A definition must include suggestions on how…