Noting that children may be affected by environmental contaminants in ways quite different from the way adults are affected, this report is the second on trends in measures reflecting environmental factors that may affect the U.S. children's health and well-being. A list of measures and key findings begins the report, followed by five main…

The primary challenge of delivering and evaluating family-based services lies in successfully assessing changes in families. This guide provides instruction for use of the Family Assessment Form (FAF), an instrument to help practitioners assess families at the beginning of service, develop individualized family service plans, monitor family…

A meeting of child care researchers, federal and state child care administrators, and participants in the studies of child outcomes in the context of state welfare waiver evaluations was convened on February 7, 1997. The purpose of the meeting was to ask for input as to the most important aspects of child care to cover in the state welfare waiver…

Traces the conceptual origins of adaptive behavior of handicapped people, from state residential institutions to its role in the complex process of community integration. Measurement instruments are reviewed. Measurement, conceptual, and methodological issues are discussed. (Author/BJV)

Investigates the validity and reliability of performance assessments using data from over 300 fifth and sixth graders. Results demonstrate the gap between the reality of measurement through performance assessments and the political rhetoric that would institute these assessments in a national examination system in the immediate future. (SLD)

Classroom tests developed by 41 seventh- and eighth-grade science and mathematics teachers were analyzed by content and measurement experts. The quality of a teacher's test was best predicted by performance on a multiple-choice test of measurement competence. Implications for teacher training in measurement are discussed. (SLD)

Results of an investigation of the construct validity of measurements of social and academic competencies of 175 3rd graders, 193 7th graders, and 159 11th graders made by the students themselves, teachers, parents, and peers suggest that researchers should consider making greater use of parent ratings for elementary school students. (SLD)

One of the consistent findings of educational research studies is the effect of the students' family socio-economic background on their learning achievement. Consequently, international comparative studies emphasis the role of socio-economic background for determining learning outcomes. In particular, PISA results have been used to describe how…

The Carl D. Perkins Vocational and Technical Education Act of 1998 requires that the Secretary provide the appropriate committees of Congress copies of annual reports received by the department from each eligible agency that receives funds under the Act. Congress has made "accountability for results" a central focus of the Perkins III…

The U.S. Census Bureau's Small Area Income and Poverty Estimates (SAIPE) Program produces poverty and income estimates for states, counties, and school districts on an annual basis. These estimates provide updated income and poverty statistics, which are used for the administration of federal programs and the allocation of federal funds to local…

This article presents theoretical considerations behind the Jyvaskyla teacher in-service development program in teaching content through a foreign language and surveys some international experiences of bilingual education. The term "bilingual program" refers to all variations of bilingual education and teaching of non-language subjects…

This paper defines benchmarking and its relationship to quality management, describes a project which applied the technique in a library context, and explores the relationship between performance measurement and benchmarking. Numerous benchmarking methods contain similar elements: deciding what to benchmark; identifying partners; gathering…

A longitudinal study of various measures of creativity was conducted to determine the validity of a number of possible predictors of an arts orientation. Tests of creative thinking, creative personality, divergent thinking, intelligence, and school achievement were administered to above-average fifth-graders (N=23), who also drew pictures based on…

This book is designed to give those who work with youth the information they need on recent anger-related research. It presents practical information about critical assessment, prevention, and intervention by emphasizing the affective, attitudinal, and behavioral aspects of anger. Chapters include: (1) "Correlates of Anger, Hostility, and…

The Middle Childhood HOME (MC-HOME) Inventory is designed to measure the quality and quantity of stimulation and support available to a child in the home environment. It is an interview/questionnaire that is individually administered to the primary caregiver while the target child is awake and present. The instrument is intended to be a sensitive…