This report concerns evaluation of federally supported educational programs at the national, state, and local levels. It was undertaken in response to Section 1526 of the Education Amendments of 1978, which requires that the Commissioner of Education conduct a comprehensive study of evaluation practices and procedures. Two broad sources of information were used: contemporary research and development by other researchers, and direct investigations by the project staff. Introductory material is presented in the first chapter. Chapter 2 considers the rationale, evidence, and opinion bearing on why evaluations are done; the confusion and argument engendered by general demands for evaluation; and the audiences to whom evaluations are addressed. Chapter 3 addresses the question of how evaluations are executed. Chapter 4 covers the organization of evaluations and the capabilities of evaluators, and chapter 5 considers quality of evaluations. The way evaluation results are used is considered in chapter 6, and case studies on the use of evaluative information are included. Chapter 7 covers recommendations. An extensive bibliography concludes the report. Legislative and management background, and research strategies are contained in the appendixes. (Author/MLF)