Meta-analysis was conducted on 31 evaluations of 15 government-sponsored training programs for disadvantaged groups, 1964-1998. Earnings effects were largest for women, modest for men, and negligible for youth. Skills training increased earnings; basic education was not effective. No evidence was found that more expensive programs performed…

Colleges and universities are finding that improvements in the guaranteed student loan process are making it more attractive than direct lending. In its third year, the direct lending program's total loan volume remains at 33%, well below the 50% goal set in originating legislation. Even some of its strongest supporters fear the program will have…

Evaluates the budget savings potential of four methods of reducing the costs of the federal student loan program: (1) eliminate excess returns to private lenders; (2) eliminate excess administrative costs; (3) reduce the subsidy; and (4) ration directly by denying loans to some. (JOW)

Poses additional complexities for the evaluation of government programs by the formation of partnerships with the private sector. Challenges include differing partner objectives, information deficiencies, variances in partner contributions and outcome effects, and difficulties in estimating benefits and costs. Discusses strategies to aid…

Compares spending proposed by Bush Administration's tax cuts with ways funds might be invested for education and child care costs. Raises concerns regarding funding cuts or changes in Head Start, Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the Child Care and Development Block Grant. Asserts that as states cut educational/child care…

Reviews youth employment and training programs since 1962. Concludes that successful programs share the following characteristics: (1) a focus on chronic unemployment; (2) comprehensive remedial programs and human services; (3) early intervention; and (4) connections to mainstream institutions. (FMW)

Program evaluation as a methodology is discussed, and its application to government export promotion programs is examined. Because the variety of approaches to export program evaluation, resulting data are often of limited usefulness. A programmatic approach to program evaluation is proposed. (TJH)

Describes the work of the five regional centers established by the U.S. Department of Education under the 1986 Drug Free Schools and Communities Act 1986, including the names, addresses, and telephone numbers of the centers. (SK)

Noting the dim employment prospects for youth and the economic plight of young American families, a recent Grant Foundation report calls for more experience-based schooling. Also recommended is better funding for existing Head Start, Chapter 1, and federal job training programs and for new legislation--the Fair Chance/Youth Opportunities Act. (MLH)

One institution's several years' experience with the Department of Education's Quality Control Project, which is attempting to ascertain the value of student financial-aid application-verification efforts, is summarized and commented on. (Author/MSE)

Describes Employment Training, Britain's new program for unemployed adults. The author interviewed employers, managing agents, and the unemployed and found a distinct lack of enthusiasm about the programs. (JOW)

Describes the provisions, development, and future of the Independent-Living Initiative. Discusses its implementation at federal and state levels, and also the plans of the state of Illinois to establish a departmentwide task force to develop a system of services for youths who will be leaving foster care. (RJC)

An approach toward integrating evaluation into a program at its inception is presented as a way to increase utility and cost-effectiveness. Examples illustrate that such integration, combining internal and external evaluation, is preferable to independent and separate evaluation in terms of the cost to stakeholders. (SLD)

Congress substituted direct federal loans for federal guarantee of private loans for postsecondary education. Budget savings were overestimated because credit risks, recognition of administrative costs, and increases in administrative and borrowing costs were ignored. Savings could have been achieved by reducing returns to private lenders and…

Two samples of Trade Adjustment Assistance Program participants before and after 1988 program changes were studied. The program served workers who were permanently displaced and suffered significant earnings losses, but there was no evidence that training affected earnings three years after initial unemployment. (SK)