Author describes several studies which show that Sesame Street does not prepare poverty children for first grade and does not narrow the achievement gap that now exists between the poor and the middle-class child. (Author/CB)

National study indicated that as the numer of FFA chapter members increased, the mean participation score decreased and that high membership percentage in an FFA chapter is not necessarily a prerequisite for increased membership participation. (SB)

Reports a research study which attempts to show the degree to which a licensing examination measures on the job performances as well as to show any measurable disparities between the licensing examination and on the job perofrmance. (SB)

An adaptation of Egon Brunswik's lens-model methodology was used for evaluation of consumer judgments concerning overall effectiveness of a special education inservice training program for rural area handicapped preschool children and their families. (Author)

Issues pertaining to the documentation of positive outcomes for severely handicapped learners as a function of their educational programs are addressed, and the value of the general evaluative concept of educational validity is emphasized. Issues related to the current overreliance on the single-subject experimental model are also discussed. (SEW)

Significant questions are raised concerning the Baker/de Kanter review, which concluded that "the case for the effectiveness of transitional bilingual education is so weak that exclusive reliance on this instructional method is clearly not justified." Sources used show methodological problems and multiple examples of deficiences in nine…

A study of the effects of time formats on informational and attitudinal changes of students in college-level human sexuality courses indicates that the duration of the course is less important than the method of teaching it. (RM)

Critiquing the stakeholder idea, the author states: if government chooses to take account of competing views in social program evaluation, it can get a better result if it encourages the competing views to find a voice of their own, not to speak through the government's chosen instrument. (Author/PN)

Recent work in the field of vocational education indicates that pooled data may be useful in (1) making decisions about the content of vocational education programs at orientation, exploratory, and preparatory levels, (2) evaluating the effects of vocational education on vocational maturity, and (3) teaching about career and curriculum…

Reviews research studies on the effectiveness of prison education programs. Most evaluations show substantial improvements in learning, but this does not necessarily affect post-release employment and recidivism. The literature suggests that programs must be intensive, establish an alternative community within the prison, and offer post-release…

Faculty members in social/behavioral science programs at the Universities of Chicago and California at Berkeley have been given the highest overall "grades" for quality by their academic peers in a survey published by the National Academy of Sciences. Includes scores for anthropology, geography, history, political science, psychology and sociology…

Human relations services funded under the Emergency School Aid Act were found to have had favorable but generally weak effects on student intergroup relations. Process and impact evaluation should be combined and individual effects should be examined. (Author/CM)

Describes a system for evaluating a teacher education program by using existing instruments and data. Presents results from four research projects evaluating elementary and early childhood teacher preparation programs at the University of Georgia. (PAS)

Makes a case for bilingual education by citing program and research results and by comparing bilingual programs with English as a second language programs. Suggests why some bilingual programs are less successful and notes the importance of principals for educational programs. (JM)