This article shares the results from a quasi-experimental mixed-methods study of a promising transition-focused professional development approach. The 12-week team-based intervention resulted in positive outcomes among intervention group participants' knowledge and capacities. The intervention group exhibited statistically significant changes in…

Successful secondary career and technical education programs are highly dependent on the effectiveness of the instructors tasked with preparing high school students for post-secondary employment. Many of these instructors, especially those hired straight from industry, are experts in their field of study, but lack pedagogical training. Thus, the…

Career and technical education (CTE) is increasingly seen as a major potential contributor to the recovery of the U.S. economy. However, the effectiveness and impact of the current Carl D. Perkins Act (otherwise known as Perkins IV) that governs CTE are unclear. Is the federal investment in CTE paying off? To answer this, we need to establish the…

This study assesses the environmental proficiency of Texas life science educators certified from 2003 to 2011 by analyzing their TExES 138 8-12 exam results in domains V and VI. The sample consisted of all the individuals that took and passed the TExES 138 life science 8-12 exam. During this period, approximately 41% of the individuals who took…

Includes 10 articles related to evaluating learning in technical agriculture discuss evaluation techniques, authentic assessment, evaluation of student learning in agricultural mechanics, assessment of knowledge using standards and benchmarks, standardized testing, academic skills assessment, and formative classroom assessment. (JOW)

This manual was designed to be a comprehensive resource for a wide variety of persons interested in vocational assessment, including teachers, administrators, and counselors. It provides a resource that educators can use in locating guidelines at specific points in designing or implementing vocational assessment programs for handicapped students.…

The purposes of this terminal evaluation report are to determine the extent to which the major goals of the Skyline Wide Educational Plan (SWEP) project were achieved, to evaluate the utility of the products of SWEP studies, and to communicate the results to appropriate audiences. Information relative to four major project components is presented;…

Some differences in priorities and rankings emerged when principals, superintendents, and teachers ranked the importance of eight principal competencies and evaluated 18 principals on their performance. (JM)

Texas is shifting to an integrated, systems-oriented approach to providing work force services for its residents and employers in which all services are guided by a single mission and vision. Implementation strategies are clearly focused on achieving common results. Accountability means being able to ensure taxpayers, residents, employers, and…

This paper offers an initial assessment of Texas' work force development evaluation and performance management efforts. Following an overview, section 2 clarifies distinctions between performance management and evaluation responsibilities such as purpose, definition, information produced, general question asked, and key questions addressed.…

Texas is developing a return-on-investment (ROI) measure to assess the cost-effectiveness of work force programs. Emphasis is on issues related to conducting cross-program ROI analysis at the level of the Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) in career or one-stop centers. To make the most appropriate and effective use of ROI, the following…

A 2-year project was undertaken to develop performance standards for vocational and applied technology education in Texas. During the first project year, background research on performance standards in vocational and applied technology education was conducted and model performance standards for selected vocational programs were delineated. During…

Interpretive information about the Texas Career Education Measurement Series (CEMS) is provided in this manual. CEMS consists of a battery of 17 instruments--sixteen category tests and one survey instrument--designed to assess the development of secondary students in terms of career education. The manual is in four parts. Part 1 briefly describes…

The validity of grades given by secondary school teachers was studied. Two teacher-originated measures of performance and one independent standardized measure of achievement were examined. The teacher-originated grades were final examination grades (FINALs) and end of the semester marks (MARKs) for over 40 courses at all secondary levels. The…

This report, which documents compliance of Texas vocational education programs with civil rights legislation in 1992-93, details the activities conducted by the Texas Education Agency to comply with Office of Civil Rights (OCR) guidelines under the Texas Methods of Administration plan. Presented in the first section are the following:…