This article responds to the "Standards for Evaluation of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials" by addressing three issues in qualitative research: (1) data quality; (2) data verification; and (3) collusion between evaluators and their sponsors. To be of maximum international value, the standards report needs more emphasis on…

The lack of overriding rationale and theoretical anchors in "Standards for the Evaluation of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials" creates difficulties when adapting the standards to local situations. The limitations of the book's treatment of ethical considerations, evaluation, utilization, and research management procedures for…

Before beginning assessment programs, institutions should carefully examine the literature on assessment practice, including the experiences of other institutions. Sources on assessment and a list of representative assessment programs are presented. (MLW)

A quantitative procedure is presented for identifying effective schools, those producing superior student test performance (grades 2-11), in 1983 in Dallas. Stipend awards were given to teachers in schools ranked in the top quarter of each grade level category using the lower bound statistic based on individually standardized gain scores to rank…

The events leading up to a controversial external evaluation in a small school district in Chicago are described from the client's viewpoint. Focus is on the community unrest and tension that shaped the evaluation contract. (TJH)

Uses Florida as an example of statewide testing in the United States and presents an unfavorable comparison with the General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), to be used in the United Kingdom. Major points of concern are (1) the multiple choice format, and (2) lack of teacher input. (NH)

Some sample data used in economic education research may be biased because missing observations may not be random. The authors explain a technique for estimating the relationship between students who fail to take standardized tests (the missing observations) and a core of general variables that might explain this behavior. (Author)

Discusses the need for standards for the evaluation of educational programs, projects, and materials, and describes the development of such standards by a joint committee representing 12 organizations with widely differing constituencies. (Author)

Reports the results of a state survey that examined community college reading assessment and diagnostic tools and makes recommendations about appropriate assessment and diagnostic tools for community colleges. (HOD)

Effectively assessing higher education will require new partnerships, a close look at the goals of teaching and learning, and respect for each system's diversity. An arrangement through which institutions and state systems could work together in experimenting with assessment alternatives is advocated. (MLW)

In 1979, Eric Hanushek pointed out a potential problem in estimating educational production functions, particularly at the precollege level. He observed that it is frequently inappropriate to include school-system variables in equations using the individual student as the unit of observation. This study offers limited evidence supporting this…

Students, staff, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community in Virginia Beach, Virginia were involved in developing a curriculum renewal plan. (MD)

Public concern over the quality of education has put pressure on principals to evaluate their schools. Responses of principals to this pressure and reports on new research on principals' use of evaluation are discussed in this paper. (MD)

Discusses ethical principles necessary when evaluating students' communication skills. Stresses the importance of examining the ethics of this process because the evaluation of communication behavior is performed by individuals who are prone to subjectivity. (PD)

Proposes a quality control model for education directed toward three major groupings of indices--antecedents, processes, and operational settings. (FL)