This paper reviews evaluations of social programs and major approaches to program evaluation. Its purpose is to examine the roles that philosophy, ideology, key audiences, preferred methods, and typical evaluation questions can play in the practices of contemporary evaluators. The report describes the Learning Connections Projects, a program that…

In order to purport a model that demonstrates how scientific literacy is recognized and its purposes and goals, we need the perspectives and voices of individuals who are stakeholders in the science education reform process are needed. The purpose of this study is to examine the interpretations of scientific literacy from a cross section of the…

This document is the first of a series that will address five stages of the school reform process. It focuses on the first stage of the change process, managing key stakeholders and external groups and engaging them in the planning and development of the reform or innovation. A stakeholder is any group or individual who can affect or is affected…

This paper examines the overall process of implementing participatory evaluation methods in a nonparticipatory, nondemocratic environment. The paper is based on a 1-year evaluation of an after-school literacy program and is part of a larger effort to bring participatory evaluation to the grantees of a foundation. The evaluation occurred with an…

The evaluators of Push/Excel assumed that it was a systematically developed program with measurable outcomes, not a charismatically inspired movement whose effects would be hard to pin down. As a result, neither the program nor the evaluation approach used were adequately tested. (Author)

Explores the controversy surrounding the appointment of William Bulger, a well-known politician, as president of the University of Massachusetts. The complexities of educational policy in Massachusetts are revealed. Ultimately the process aired the views of all stakeholders in a process that should contribute to the eventual success of Bulger in…

Explores how quality in early childhood services is defined and examines the implications of working within the inclusionary approach. Argues that the choice of paradigm for working with quality is of the greatest importance for early childhood services. Concludes by noting that an inclusionary approach to quality fits best with the concept of…

Describes an evaluability assessment of the Georgia Research Alliance (GRA), a technology development program. Presents the steps involved in conducting an evaluability assessment, including development of an understanding of the program and its stakeholders. Analyzes and compares different methods by which the GRA could be evaluated. (SLD)

Discusses the roles played by participants and the processes involved in a provincial standards-setting exercise for a large-scale assessment of student skills. Offers perspectives of a policy maker outside the exercise and an insider participant. Describes alternate notions of representativeness, stakes, and significance. (SLD)

Analyzes content of discussions to compare perceptions of parents, day-care providers, and other stakeholders regarding quality in early childhood services. Discusses affordability and accessibility, continuity of care, adaptation, qualifications, working conditions, social status of child care, curricula, parent/provider relationship, and…

We present a discussion of some of the lessons the investigators learned during the development and implementation phases of the Parents Matter! Program (PMP). Lessons were learned that are relevant to various groups involved in large scale, multi-site, community-based intervention studies: investigators, community leaders, community members,…

Complex environmental health problems--like air and water pollution, hazardous waste sites, and lead poisoning--are in reality a constellation of linked problems embedded in the fabric of the communities in which they occur. These kinds of complex problems have been characterized by some as "wicked problems" wherein stakeholders may have…

This handbook discusses the components of McREL's Balanced Leadership Framework, which describes the 21 responsibilities of effective leaders that McREL identified in its meta-analysis of research on leadership (published through ASCD as "School Leadership That Works"). The authors also describe the concept of "balanced leadership," noting that…

The "Higher Education Reconciliation Act of 2005" created two new grant programs for undergraduates: the Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG) program and National Science and Mathematics Access to Retain Talent (National SMART) Grant program. The ACG program is intended to encourage students to take challenging courses in high school and thus…

This policy brief explores kindergarten readiness observation and its benefits to local and state level stakeholders; highlights efforts by California counties and other states to measure school readiness; and makes recommendations for moving toward statewide use of kindergarten readiness observation tools. Key points include: (1) Early efforts to…