To indicate areas for training program improvement, 476 prospective teachers responded to questions developed around educator-identified societal and educational trends to obtain self-analysis of preparation to meet future demands of the teaching role. Less than half felt adequately prepared; most placed heavy emphasis on the practicum component…

The Worker Profiling and Reemployment Services (WPRS) was a program established in states by regulation of the federal government to profile Unemployment Insurance (UI) recipients who were most likely to exceed their time limits for UI and to give those recipients training in job search methods. The WPRS Policy Workgroup was established in January…

This article shares one educational leadership program's experiences with the use of student portfolios to assist in assessment of the program's effectiveness in preparing aspiring school principals. The authors begin with a discussion of market pressures for program reforms, which include the use of student portfolios for student assessment.…

Measures of quality are now in widespread use across states as part of quality improvement initiatives. For example, many states are currently using global measures of quality that were first developed for research and practice purposes (such as the Environmental Rating Scales) in their Quality Rating Systems (QRSs). Although global quality…

A study examined statewide implementation of the Arizona Department of Education's vocational technological education (ADE/VTE) model and the feasibility of using Arizona's performance standards in evaluating processes/outcomes at model sites. Data were collected from a pilot study of 12 sites and survey of 128 Arizona local education authorities…

By December of the 1992-93 school year, 433 children were being served by the Chapter 1 Prekindergarten Program of the Saginaw, Michigan school district. A process evaluation was conducted to monitor the program and assess whether the program was being implemented as planned. The process evaluation consisted of a half-day classroom observation in…

Outcomes of a longitudinal study of the Earn and Learn program are summarized. Earn and Learn was a work-experience program initiated in 1972 as a school-based, goal-oriented program for at-risk middle school students designed to increase their self-image and school performance. Two evaluation studies were carried out. One study focused on the…

Results of a process evaluation of dropout prevention programs in the Leon County (Florida) school district during the school year 1989-90 are presented. Altogether, 11 dropout programs were operationalized in that school year. The methodology used for developing a problem survey among teachers and administrators, the results of the evaluation,…

This manual is written for state and local administrators and statewide child care and child health organizations looking for ways to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of their child care regulatory review, rule-making process, and enforcement system. Data collection procedures and a review team process, state administrators can identify…

The 10 chapters in this book provide an overview of 5 years of work by member schools and colleges in the Urban Schools Network, which provides technical assistance to schools in 31 urban areas. "Overview of the Urban Schools Network" (Lola Jackson) is a history, defining purposes, participants, and priorities. "Integrating Academic…

This report examines the philosophy, policies, programs, methodologies, services, and organizational structures that relate to the education of students between 4 and 9 years of age. Sections of the report address: (1) the relation between development and learning; (2) school readiness; (3) early learning programs; and (4) partnerships among…

The Office of Research, Evaluation, and Assessment of the New York City Public Schools annually evaluates the PCEN English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) program. Tests already in place in the High School Testing program are used as evaluation instruments. Objectives are that at least 50 percent of program participants will show a positive difference…

The Nutrition Education and Training (NET) program evaluated in this report is one of the Child Nutrition Programs of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. NET's outreach to its target populations is achieved through: (1) workshops developed by NET and delivered by contract trainers; (2) circulation of a NET library collection; (3) development and…

The Vermont General Assembly mandated an evaluation of the regional library program of the Vermont State Department of Libraries. To carry out this charge, the department initiated a 14-month review of the program with three components: an internal review of library service, use, and costs; public library input derived from a detailed survey and…

This paper discusses program evaluation as a condition for the receipt of federal funds under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It focuses on some actual and potential linkages between effectiveness or outcome evaluation, implementation evaluation, compliance monitoring, and the concepts of program improvement and…