Changing ideas about the role of early education increasingly point toward universal preschool education for all children. Examines issues concerning the long-term effects of preschool experiences and suggests that the value of early education will vary as a function of a matrix of factors including program quality, the vulnerability of individual…

A procedure is proposed for determining whether correlations obtained between two measures justify the assumption that the measures are identical. It is intended especially for small samples. In the example, the performance scales of two intelligence tests were administered to 32 deaf adolescents. (GDC)

Critiques two articles appearing in the March 1986 issue of "Executive Educator"--one proposing principal evaluation by teachers, another describing exercises in an assessment center that probes principals' strengths and weaknesses. Most principals surveyed support teachers' evaluations and assessment centers which identify potential…

This paper reviews literature on teacher effectiveness and evaluation. In order for teacher evaluation to be effective in terms of improving teacher performance, it has to be formative. Evaluations also can contribute to the improvement of the performance of the school overall. Teacher evaluation also has effects on the environment outside the…

A symposium on educational evaluation was held to celebrate the career of Robert E. Stake. Contributions, which relate to many aspects of educational evaluation, include: (1) "The Issue of Advocacy in Evaluation" (Ernest House and Kenneth Howe); (2) "The Meaning of Bias" (Michael Scriven); (3) Commentary on Ernie House and…

The concept is simple and attractive: Evaluate teachers on the basis of how much academic growth their students experience over the course of the school year. Often referred to as "value-added," this concept and the statistical methods for implementing it have been a topic of debate in state legislatures and at state and national…

Examines the Symbol, Search, Coding, Arithmetic, and Digit Span (SCAD) subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (3rd ed.) (WISC-III) by comparing 363 students with learning and emotional disabilities to the WISC-III normative sample. Results indicate that the SCAD profile is neither a valid diagnostic indicator nor an important…

Describes the study of a science performance assessment with 96 English Language Learners (ELL) in five high school science classes investigating the face, construct, and consequential validity of an intersection. ELL spelling and syntax on some responses were significant sources of error. Recommendations include increasing the assessment's design…

Presents an alternative to using a single-class-period test to assess a college student's knowledge in the mathematics area. Evaluation of student mathematical knowledge and understanding of concepts is improved when students are given opportunities to design problems and solutions, applying classroom-acquired knowledge to new situations. Such…

An admissions director discusses development of appropriate criteria for performance appraisals of college admission officers at the University of Rochester. (TE)

The use of qualitative evaluation methods is explored as a means of overcoming constraints and complexities of evaluation of development programs. A case study demonstrating the application of qualitative analysis to monitoring and evaluation of the Basic Minimum Needs program in Thailand is presented. (SLD)

The special educator must be aware of possible sources of error in assessment of children with learning problems. Sources of error can be attributed to unconscious examiner bias, ambiguous test responses, linguistic and cultural differences of the examiner and examinee, previous test-taking experience, and problems with test reliability and…

Twelve articles discuss the advantages of theory-driven evaluation for: (1) identifying crucial issues; (2) integrating program implementation into evaluation; (3) diagnosing problems in program studies; (4) diagnosing problems in program structures; and (5) enhancing evaluation utilization. Topics include optimizing validity in program and…

Discusses problems and methodology of diagnosis and counseling of college students with borderline personality disorder. Recommends that providing these students with structure through consistent limit setting can produce positive changes in their behavior. (Author/ABL)

Discussed is the issue of the appropriateness of applied science approaches to evaluation in environmental education. The relationships between characteristics of applied science approaches to evaluation and the special characteristics of environmental education are explored. (Author/YP)