The "Standards for Evaluation of Educational Programs, Projects and Materials" focuses on contextual influences at the individual research project level. Macro-level political and organizational factors can be preconditions for applying the standards at project level. A study of Dutch educational evaluation research is used to illustrate…

This article uses a policy scientific approach to reconstruct assumptions underlying the Dutch Educational Supervision Act. We show an example of how to reconstruct and evaluate a program theory that is based on legislation of inspection. The assumptions explain how inspection leads to school improvement. Evaluation of these assumptions is used to…

This paper summarizes the main results of a meta-evaluation of innovative education programs in Dutch education. Attention is focused on contextual influences, while a case is made for prudent and feasible ways of "rational reconstruction" and for an acitve evaluation policy aimed at overcoming contextual constraints. (LMO)