In 1992 the city of Barcelona (Spain) enacted legislation to require moped riders to wear helmets. Interrupted time series analyses with use of a control group found a significant decrease in the number of serious injuries and deaths in the helmet group, supporting the efficacy of the legislation. (SLD)

Explores implications for evaluation practice of using five different perspectives on organizations, drawing on the four models of social program implementation developed by R. F. Elmore (1978). It is argued that evaluation will only really be effective when its focus, methods, and management reflect realistic assumptions about how organizations…

An evaluation of case management services to families on public assistance suggests that a "logic model" and an "open systems" evaluation approach might be useful in program evaluation. A second study describes how the logic model and open systems evaluation were used to develop an evaluation plan for services to homeless women. (SLD)

Whether agency awareness estimates provided by physicians might be inflated due to agency awareness acquiescence (reporting being aware of a fictitious agency among real ones) was studied with 113 physicians. Few identified variables were correlated with agency awareness acquiescence, although some evidence suggested that social desirability was…

The seven articles of this special section explore evaluation in South Africa. Particular emphasis is placed on policy development in the areas of health, education, and housing and on efforts to alleviate the legacy of apartheid. Participative and quantitative efforts are described. (SLD)

The relationships among factors reported on report cards developed for local school districts in Tennessee and how they related to student outcomes were studied. The study revealed few, if any, straight-line relationships between inputs and outputs reported. Report cards are vastly overrated as indicators of educational quality. (SLD)

Provides brief descriptions of major types of early childhood programs, and reviews what is known about the effects of early childhood programs on children and their families. The authors also consider how those effects come about and why effectiveness varies across programs. Five policy questions and recommendations are discussed regarding how…

Reviews the literature on delinquency that shows key early childhood factors which are associated with later antisocial or delinquent behavior. The review focuses on programs which have demonstrated long-term effects on antisocial behavior or delinquency, as well as their cost effectiveness. The article reveals that programs combining family…

Describes two-generation programs and how they differ from earlier single-focus approaches to serve children and families. Results from six programs are reviewed and indicate mixed and modest success in promoting the development of children and improving the parenting skills and economic self-sufficiency of parents. Recommendations are presented…

Reviews international research that documents how participation in early childhood programs influenced children's later development and success in school. The research shows participation in preschool promotes cognitive development and school success; program type matters little. Further, maternal employment and reliance on child care do not harm…

Reviews studies that defined and measured the effects of quality in early child care and education, and analyzes successful programs to determine common traits. Common characteristics include small class sizes; teacher support for greater teaching effectiveness; long-lasting intervention; ongoing, child-focused communication between home and…

Considers the role that school experiences play in transmitting and sustaining the cognitive gains made by children in preschool. The author discusses schooling in the early elementary grades and how parents' expectations and teachers can influence academic achievement. New ways of thinking about the links between preschool and the early years of…

Provides a historical analysis of how demographic changes in American family life from the mid-1880s to the present have shaped the demand for programs to complement the efforts of families in educating and caring for their children. The author notes a second child care revolution currently taking place and argues for public funding for early…

Examines the evolution of maternal employment and child care provision policies in the United States, Sweden, and the Netherlands. The analysis shows that child care policy is best viewed as one element among many. Tax codes, labor laws, parental leave policies, and cash assistance programs combine with child care policies to shape women's choices…

Contrasts early childhood education policymakers with researchers to explore ways in which these groups differ and the ways in which the media, private foundations, and advocacy groups can facilitate communication among the two groups and the public. The author reviews her experiences in Florida to show how research can help shape policy for young…