The Contribution of Demonstration Programs to Educational Policymaking.

Policy, or program, analysis has the responsibility for providing policymakers with timely information about the consequences of alternative courses of action. In elementary and secondary education, however, the policymaking effort is complicated by the organizational gap often present between the policymaker and the practitioner or user. An educational demonstration program can help bridge this gap if analysis of the demonstration program serves as the communication link. This paper delineates an equitable way to develop cost measures, to assess achievement measures (as one outcome), and to compare alternatives using these measures. Brief examples illustrate a simple, analytically-sound way to make the most of cost and outcome data in comparing alternative programs. Because the analysis is straightforward, the results are likely to be more credible to the policymaker. (Author)