Part C IDEA regulations define "evaluation" as "the procedures used by qualified personnel to determine a child's initial and continuing eligibility..." and "assessment" as "ongoing procedures used by qualified personnel to identify the child's unique strengths and needs and the early intervention services…

Improving school climate takes time and commitment from a variety of people in a variety of roles. This document outlines key action steps to engage students in the school climate improvement process. Key action steps are provided for the following strategies: (1) Participate in planning for school climate improvements; (2) Engage stakeholders in…

The purpose of the National AEM Center's Quality Indicators with Critical Components for Higher Education is to assist institutes of higher education, both at the system and campus level, with planning, implementing, and evaluating dynamic, coordinated systems for providing accessible materials and technologies for all students who need them. The…

Head Start has long focused on assessing and improving program quality to ensure that the children served receive the best possible preparation for school and life. Most research has been focused inside the classroom--the classroom environment, teacher qualifications, and teacher interactions. Of course, the classroom is important because that is…

Spurred by the "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001, virtually every educational reform program now includes an accountability component that requires sound data collection and reporting. Improving data quality has thus emerged as a high priority for educators and policymakers across the country. The list of programs for which data quality…

This companion guidebook augments the Federal Emergency Management Agency's publication entitled "FEMA 154, Rapid Visual Screening of Buildings for Potential Seismic Hazards: A Handbook." The guidebook, which provides assistance in the use of the Rapid Screening Procedure (RSP), is intended for use by public school districts with…

Lists and discusses 17 "do" and 8 "don't" guidelines for educators and trainers to consider when designing data collection questionnaires. (MF)

This informational packet provides guidelines to help schools make the most of their school grounds and contains the following: a handbook; a loose leaf activity pack; videotape; and poster. The handbook provides information on each stage of the school ground development/change process, offers the rationale for improving school grounds, and lists…

This study presents survey data from school district administrators on the rules and regulations that govern non-school use of public school facilities as adopted by 165 Missouri Public School Districts. It compares whether districts having written policies governing non-school use of facilities differed from districts with no such policies…

This document, one of five volumes that compose the Pupil Personnel Services Recommended Practices and Procedures Manual, is designed for school counselors and psychologists and provides recommended practices and procedures to assist pupil personnel workers in better serving students in Illinois schools. Chapter 1 presents the philosophy of pupil…

This guide is intended for professionals, laypersons, funding agents and others involved in planning and delivering local prevention services. Chapter 1 defines prevention, and differentiates between prevention strategies and programs targeted toward individuals or to general populations. Program evaluation and evaluation research are defined and…

Describes a process for evaluating career education activities. Discusses the selection of the evaluation sample, selection and development of instruments, data reduction and analysis, comparison standards, and preparation of an evaluation handbook. (JOW)

This book for state early childhood licensing administrators addresses the problem of obtaining systematic and reliable information about the operation of an early childhood or child care program. The book: (1) provides an introduction to early childhood program evaluation; (2) describes systematic observation techniques; (3) discusses summative…

This document provides an overview of the needs assessment literature related to continuing professional education and guidelines for designing needs assessment procedures for a given project or professional group. Section 1 reviews the literature. It considers key concepts and definitions, reviews factors that may influence the development of a…

Furniture, clothing, and even the candy dish help amateur archaeologists uncover the "facts" through hands on experience. (Editor)