This abridgement of "PLANS: Basic Program in Educational Planning and Problem Solving" is a condensation of the training manual for the PLANS model and is aimed at providing a brief presentation of the seven steps of the model. These seven steps identify the problem, define the problem, analyze the problem, generate alternative solutions, select…

This publication sets forth information about, and provides some concepts and techniques essential to the initiation of an educational plan. The goals describe the intended product or the direction to be taken. The study of needs and priorities provides guidance about where to start, or where to place major emphasis and resources. Indicators…

Project USHER is designed to help community colleges implement a humanistic management system. This objective is to be achieved by giving each participating college the capability to redesign its own educational system through implementing a planning, programming, budgeting, and evaluation system (PPBE) within the context of participative…

This study compared two contrasting preservice teacher training programs, analyzing the terminal objectives, the objectives prerequisite for accomplishing the terminal objectives, and strategies used to accomplish prerequisite and terminal objectives. The analysis was designed to clarify similarities and differences between the training programs,…

A factor analysis was performed of education goal ratings of principals, teachers and parents of a number of California elementary schools. One hundred and six goals obtained from the Center for the Study of Evaluation's Needs Assessment Kit were rated on a five point scale for their importance. Ratings were submitted to a principal components…

Virtually every profession has adopted a special vocabulary and style of communication which tends to be incomprehensible to persons outside the profession. The special vocabularies serve the professions well--until it comes time to communicate with "outsiders." Then, the professional jargon must be translated into "universal…

The basic structure and concepts of a system for training program staff in self-evaluation are described. This training system aims to be competency-based and largely self-instructive. This paper is the first component in the training system and serves as an introduction and description of the rest of the system. (Author)

The Delaware Educational Assessment Program accountability model is based on the performance assessment procedure initially described by Dyer, which utilizes background information of students to estimate educational outcomes. The difference between the estimate and the actual outcome is defined as a "need" in this application. This…

Distinction between norm referenced and criterion referenced tests are explored in relationship to underlying philosophy and intent. In considering the use of a criterion referenced test for instructional purposes, consideration is given to: specification of objectives, item content and selection, reliability, and needs assessment. (Author)

Accountability currently is an important concept throughout education. Michigan has assumed leadership among the States in exploring and applying accountability procedures. The purpose of this report is to examine the quality and implications of that leadership. Specifically, the authors' purpose is to assess the Michigan Accountability System…

In 1973 the Michigan Department of Education and the Cooperative Accountability Project attempted to develop a greater understanding of the problems which might be associated with dissemination of information about educational accountability programs. From this project three papers resulted that outlined a potential dissemination model designed to…

Although emphatically not against the concept of educational accountability, the National Education Association (NEA) feels that a redirection is needed in the implementation of such a system. Because of error, especially in testing minority and poor children, accountability programs should never use test results as the major source of data but…

In addition to some general and basic principles regarding the importance of an acceptable accountability system, a number of specific criteria for evaluating state accountability programs is provided. The stated purposes of such a system and the specific uses of the resulting data should be clear and concise. Local control must be retained and…

This evaluation of instructional materials is based on data collected from statistical summaries, predictive instruments, teacher and student reactions, in-depth studies, evaluation seminars, and observations. The materials covered in this report are divided into two categories: 16mm films and building-level materials, the latter including items…

This paper commences with a brief history of reforms in secondary education and the studies of various groups that inspired them. Despite almost a century of criticism and reform proposals, the high school continued until this decade to be a highly regarded community institution. Reflecting the present loss of prestige suffered by high schools,…