The results of an evaluation of Vermont's statewide assessment initiative are presented, with information about the implementation of the program, its effects on educational practice, the analytic challenge presented by the portfolio scoring process, the reliability and validity of portfolio scores, and the tensions between assessment and…

The federal government's experience with adult retraining programs began in 1962 with the passage of the Manpower Development and Training Act and creation of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program. When the 1973 Comprehensive Employment and Training Act expired in 1982, Congress enacted the Job Training Partnership Act. During the 1980s, states…

The Multicultural Reading and Thinking (McRAT) Program of the Arkansas public schools is described, and results of a study of its effectiveness are reported. The McRAT Program is a process that empowers teachers to refocus instruction and restructure standard curricula for higher order thinking. The multicultural emphasis provides a meaningful…

The New York State Education Department is legislatively mandated to present an annual report on education in the state, summarizing enrollment, academic achievement, student outcomes, and information about teachers and staff. As one part of the annual report, this document presents individual school district profiles largely for the 1988-89…

This comprehensive evaluation of basic skills testing in California's elementary and secondary schools is divided into an executive summary and a collection of research reports. The summary evaluates current testing conducted by the state, school districts, and classroom teachers; describes experimental studies on new ways of testing and reporting…

The Educational Opportunity Program for At-Risk Students is a statewide initiative of the State of Indiana to expand existing programs or create new programs for at-risk students. The 57 programs improved or initiated in the 1988-89 school year most commonly included tutoring, counseling and support services, or promotion of parent/community…

This document reports the findings of the 1989-90 process evaluation of the Saginaw, Michigan school district's state-funded prekindergarten program for 4-year-olds at risk of academic failure. As of January 29, 1990, a total of 255 pupils were participating in the program at 11 sites. The Michigan Early Childhood Education Preschool (MECEP)…

An evaluation of a statewide dropout prevention strategy program with 13 prevention projects conducted by the Louisiana State Department of Education in the 1988-89 school year is presented. Both summative and process evaluations are described. The attitudes of 831 10th-grade students were measured using a pretest and posttest attitude survey…

The Phase 1 induction training received by provisional teachers from their local school districts and the student teaching experience of Trenton State College students were studied. Under the New Jersey Provisional Teacher Program, the professional education of the alternate route provisional teachers is provided by the local school district and…

This report updates the interim Virginia Employment Services Program (ESP) participation patterns and examines program success in mandating job search participation. Following an introductory chapter, chapter 2 discusses research design, sample, and data sources. (The sample contained 1,287 Work Incentive Program applicants and 1,897 recipients.)…

This final report documents the findings of a study designed to evaluate the quality and efficiency of early education programs for handicapped children in Louisiana during 1985-86. More than 400 classes in 65 formal programs (residential, home-based, and center-based) serving approximately 5,000 handicapped children ages 3-5 were studied. The…

The purpose of this report was to explore one way in which quantitative and qualitative paradigms in program evaluation can be employed to reinforce each other. An evaluation was conducted of a large number of special education programs for preschoolers with handicaps in Louisiana. Since 1978, Louisiana has funded programs in 65 public school…

In 1983, the California Legislature authorized and funded 15 Teacher Education and Computer Centers (TECCs) to provide staff development services to teachers and administrators. Incorporating earlier staff development programs into a single statewide system, TECCs provide: (1) computer technology instruction, including classroom applications; (2)…

This document is a technical guide designed for use in conjunction with the revised guidelines for staff development in Mississippi schools. It outlines and explains a step-by-step process for planning and implementing a staff development program that should foster the changes necessary to improve student and school performance throughout the…

This report contains the findings and recommendations of the California Legislative Analyst concerning the Native American Indian Early Childhood Education program. The program was established in 1972 to increase competence in reading and mathematics among American Indian students in California rural schools by intervening in prekindergarten…