The political processes involved in an academic program evaluation are discussed. The focus is on how evaluative information is politically linked to programmatic decisions within the context of various organizational and evaluative utilization models. To examine the explanatory power of the various theories and models, information from a program…

This paper describes and illustrates a decision theory model to analyze student selection strategies in Chapter 1 programs. The relationship between the method and the practice of moral evaluation activity is based on viewing justice as a fundamental moral concern in distributing resources, one which is accomplished, in part, through student…

The issue of the degree to which program duplication among two or three of Arizona's universities diverts resources from other priority needs of higher education is addressed as one of the working papers in the final report of the Arizona Board of Regents' Task Force on Excellence, Efficiency and Competitiveness. Specific arguments for the…

Based upon a study of North Carolina, its population, and its fiscal support for schools, this report summarizes the Commission's twelve recommendations. The recommendations are related to: (1) equal opportunity for all children; (2) a comprehensive programmatic method of funding local programs; (3) allocation of State aid through a weighted…

The purpose of this report is to examine the need for integration of various basic skills resources. The report concentrates on the comparison of data in the areas of policy, program integration, attitude and planning, student achievement, and cost effectiveness of the categorically-funded programs. Federal and local studies on compensatory…

This research plan is a direct response to the education Amendments of 1974 which instructs the National Institute of Education to design and conduct a compensatory education study. The research design, as outlined in this report, intends to examine programs and look for identifiable factors in funding, organization, and instructional methods…

This conference on program budgeting was planned to accomplish four objectives: (1) provide a basic orientation for academic administrators by defining program budgeting, and explaining how it might help their institutions; (2) interpret the vocabulary of systems analysis; (3) identify the different levels of involvement at which an institution…

It is the purpose of this paper to discuss cost-benefit analysis in terms of: (1) its logic and meaning, (2) some of the misconceptions which prevail concerning this method of evaluation, (3) some of the problems and limitations of this method, and (4) the conclusions of a study which attempted to determine whether or not there is pay-off from an…

This report reviews the literature on cost-benefit analysis of retraining and discusses possible approaches to conducting such an analysis. Exemplary programs in Sweden and the United States are described. Despite the existence of externalities which preclude exact calculation of costs and benefits, the report concludes that retraining is…

This paper presents a working definition of educational accountability, reasons for the accountability movement in education, events and major problems. Educational accountability is a process of setting goals, making available adequate resources to meet those goals, and conducting regular evaluation to determine if the goals are met. The reasons…

The methodological problems involved in research on the impact of financial restraint and factors that limit the effectiveness of university briefs that attempt to determine financial needs are examined. The role of "academic quality" in the debate on higher education funding is emphasized. (Author/MLW)

There are a great many types of violence prevention programs in schools, and many are demonstrating signs of success. Funders will not provide resources for programs, nor will schools know how to choose them, unless quality evaluation data are available to show their effectiveness and promise. Resources to conduct a meaningful evaluation are often…

So that New York City could build on the experiences of other large cities as it implemented Performance Driven Budgeting (PDB) in the schools, a study was conducted of the school based budgeting training in Los Angeles, Chicago, and Denver. These districts have from 6 to 10 years experience in site-based budgeting. The study is based on…

A set of standards to help small college advancement managers measure and justify the advancement processes they pursue are provided. The framework includes five sections: institutional commitment, authority and organizational structure, personnel resources, advancement activities and functions, and evaluation. (MLW)

State program review, generally asosciated with efforts to assess quality and enforce accountability, has also encouraged the states to look beyond traditional measures in evaluating their support for and investment in higher education. When access and finance issues meet head on, quality concerns may give way. (Author/MLW)