Evaluating Mainstream Programs for Minority Group Children. Revised.

Both practical and theoretical issues pertaining to the evaluation of mainstreaming programs for minority group children are addressed in this paper. Problems and issues in the evaluation of educational treatments are presented, with attention to the variables of stating goals and objectives and monitoring children's progress. A critique of large and small mainstreaming evaluation studies is presented, with an emphasis upon the adequacy of evaluation models and the insights they may yield for improved evaluation designs. The appraisal of dependent measures (such as attitudes, achievement, self-concept, and cost-effectiveness) is considered. Issues related to the evaluation requirements of Public Law 94-142 are discussed. The paper concludes with a general statement of evaluation procedures and guidelines to assist in the evaluation of mainstream programs. (Author/MK)