Empowerment evaluation is an innovative approach that uses evaluation concepts and techniques to foster improvement and self-determination. Empowerment evaluation employs qualitative and quantitative methodologies. Although it can be applied to individuals and organizations, the usual focus is on programs. The value orientation of empowerment…

Responding to a need among Pacific Northwest schools for assistance in changing their literacy programs, this paper presents case studies of 2 schools that were part of the Equity in Early Literacy Development program, which supported the schools in moving from individual classroom literacy innovations to schoolwide practices consistent with…

These hearing transcripts present testimony concerning the reauthorization of the Head Start Act taken at the 1994 National Head Start Conference. Much of the testimony was from Head Start administrators concerning the efficacy of specific programs and activities funded by the Head Start Act, particularly those which they would like to see…

In June 1993, the Family and Youth Services Bureau brought together a working group to help local programs for runaway and homeless youth better meet the needs of an increasingly diverse population of young people. Strategies developed by this working group are shared in this guide. The introductory chapter provides a framework within which local…

Although most school districts and schools are routinely involved in data collection, they do not typically use the data they collect in a systematic fashion to identify strengths and weaknesses and develop improvement strategies. One reason for the lack of data use is the perception that the data are being collected for someone else's purposes.…

This report traces the development of the art program in the Des Moines (Iowa) Independent Community School District and provides an assessment of current practices and procedures in the system. Future plans are delineated for improvement of the art program. The paper is divided into seven sections: (1) mission; (2) context evaluation; (3) input…

Since most private and public sources of external funding generally expect increased effort and accountability, Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) at two-year colleges must inform faculty and staff that if they do not expend extra effort their college will not receive significant grants. The CEO must also work with the college's professional…

This report summarizes the results of the start-up phase of the Chilliwack Community Services Child Care Support Program, which tests ways of improving accessibility, quality, and accountability in British Columbian child care programs in which licenses are not required (LNR). Twenty-seven Child Care Support Programs in British Columbia completed…

One phase of a five-phase professional improvement assessment project developed a database that identified the professional improvement needs of postsecondary technical/vocational personnel and the policies and procedures of the institutional plans for faculty development in Texas. Following a review of the literature, a questionnaire was prepared…

This monograph opens with an historical overview of dance in higher education from 1887-1991 and then focuses on issues for the 1990s. The publication is divided into five sections: (1) "Current Perspectives: Overviews of the Field" discusses what constitutes an appropriate dance education at the college level; (2) "Teacher…

This Senate report delivered by Mr. Kennedy describes elements of the Human Services Reauthorization (HSR) Act of 1994. It provides: (1) a summary of the bill which reauthorizes funding for Head Start, the Community Services Block Grant, the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and the Family Resource Program for fiscal years 1995 through…

Although technology education has been discussed for a decade, it is still uncertain how teachers feel about this new curriculum. Industrial technology education teachers from Idaho and Nebraska were randomly surveyed about their acceptance of technology education. A questionnaire was sent to a sample of 73 teachers in Nebraska and 58 teachers in…

The self-study approach to program evaluation and curricular revision described in this manual represents an effort to revitalize K-12 physical education programs. Procedures are based upon self-study activities conducted as part of the Michigan Exemplary Physical Education Programs Project. An essential ingredient to self-evaluation is the…

The purpose of the Postsecondary Vocational and Applied Technology Education (VATEA) Grants Officers' conference was to have officers share with each other the best practices of the VATEA programs. The report of the conference includes a presentation on workforce preparation by the Acting Deputy Commissioner, a keynote address from the Regent…

Employer attitudes toward Wisconsin's Youth Apprenticeship Program were examined through a survey that was sent to 260 of the 733 employers involved in the Youth Apprenticeship Program in 1996-1997. Of those employers, 149 (57.3%) returned usable replies. Overall, the employers were very pleased with the Youth Apprenticeship Program's design and…