Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act mandate that transition services be provided for students with disabilities who are 16 years and older. Although the current emphasis in the transition process tends to focus primarily on vocational opportunities, another important component of transition services is community…

This article presents and discusses a 3-D online environment known as Teen Second Life. TSL is a virtual environment geared just for youth, ages 13-17. Its social appeal is huge, especially for teens who are developmentally inclined to seek out the company of their peers. In TSL one can meet friends or make new ones, hang out, listen to music and…

This glossary of common research and evaluation terms can serve as a quick reference guide for out-of school time practitioners as they face the challenges posed in this new era of program accountability. Subsequent briefs will provide more detailed information on particular types of research and evaluation designs. A list of additional resources…

According to the Department of Health and Human Services, "good program evaluations assess programs performance, measure impacts on families and communities, and document program successes." With this information, programs are able to direct limited resources to where they are most needed and most effective in their communities. This article is…

There is increasing evidence to demonstrate that clients who complete homework assignments have a better outcome in cognitive therapy (Kazantzis, Deane, & Ronan, 2000). Most clinicians recognize that enabling clients to effectively utilize homework can be a major task in itself, particularly with disorders such as depression, where individuals…

In March 2006, Deborah Meier asked Harmony Education Center (HEC) in Bloomington, Indiana to lead a national effort to engage more pre-kindergarten through eighth grade schools across the country in the work of the Coalition of Essential Schools (CES). Meier believed that although CES had always welcomed these schools, elementary educators felt…

Objective: To assess perceived implementation of 2 substance-abuse prevention programs: a standard one and a peer-led interactive one. Methods: Data from 16 health educators were collected after 504 classroom sessions, 63 of which were observed by 24 monitors. Results: In the interactive program, health educators (HEs) followed the curriculum less…

Autism researchers have identified a set of common effective practice elements for early intervention (EI) (e.g., intensive programming). The current study examined the reported use of common elements of effective interventions in community EI settings. Eighty EI providers reported about their programs. The majority of participants reported using…

This report provides an evaluation of the efforts each state and the District of Columbia are making to provide nutritious summer meals to children of low-income families. The evolution of the Summer Food Service Program for Children (SFSP), created by Congress in 1968 to provide funds for eligible sponsoring organizations to serve meals to…

This report discusses the administration of the 1977 summer food program for children. Widespread abuses in 1976 and earlier programs are reviewed. It is held that although some abuses did occur in 1977, these were fewer and less serious than before. Causes of the program abuses are discussed in detail, and include such factors as: (1) inadequate…

This is the third of three volumes that constitute the final evaluation report of Project STAR (State Technical Assistance Resources), an undertaking of the Maryland State Department of Education designed to help 36 elementary schools improve their reading programs. This volume is the project handbook and contains information concerning the…

Published evaluation reports about educational intervention programs sponsored by Israel's Project Renewal are summarized and analyzed in this report. The programs reported on fall into the following categories: (1) intervention programs aimed at the family; (2) curriculum-based intervention programs; (3) school-related enrichment programs; (4)…

North Carolina is one of several states that have begun to incorporate the components of the Framework for 21st Century Learning in its focus on school leadership development and support. A principal preparation program in rural eastern North Carolina initiated and designed webfolios for submission of evidences of internship learning experiences.…

During the 2005-06 school year, more than 6.7 million children with disabilities received special education and related services in our public schools; this represents more than a 20 percent increase over the previous decade (U.S. Department of Education, 2009). These children, who are typically at risk for chronic physical, developmental,…

Globalization touches every sphere of our modern lives, and it has become more critical than ever that today's generation gains an understanding of other cultures and develops the ability to adapt to ever-changing environments. One important way that higher education has attempted to prepare students for these challenges is to offer study abroad…