Dynamic Resource Portal
VITAW. E. Bickel
WILLIAM E. BICKEL, Ph.D.
Administrative and Policy 2929 Elfinwild Road
Studies Department; Allison Park, PA 15101
Learning Research and(412) 487-6787
Development Center (LRDC) E-Mail:
University of Pittsburgh
3939 O'Hara StreetPERSONAL
Pittsburgh, PA 15260Born: January 27, 1946
(412) 624-7091Married, two children
EDUCATION
Ph.D.Foundations of Education
University of Pittsburgh, 1974
M.A.T.Elementary Education
University of Pittsburgh, 1971
B. A.U.S. History
Oberlin College, 1967
RESEARCH INTERESTS
Evaluation research and methodology, educational policy studies, educational reform & history.
PROFESSIONAL POSITIONS
RESEARCH
Senior ScientistUniversity of Pittsburgh
Learning Research and Development
Center (LRDC)
1976 - Present
Director andEvaluation for Learning Project, LRDCPrincipal Investigator
1998 – 2009
Co-Director, 2009-Present
Director andUniversity of Pittsburgh-Lilly Endowment
Principal InvestigatorEvaluation Partnership
1990 - 1997
Director, School University of Pittsburgh (Funded variously by Heinz, Grable, Mellon Restructuring Evaluation Foundations)
Project
1995 - 1998
Executive AdministratorNational Science Foundation
1987 – 1992LRDC-AFT Math Collaboration
Co-Director,Lilly Endowment- University of Pittsburgh/New York University
Middle Grades
Improvement Project
1987 - 1990
Project DirectorEducational Network
1985 - 1990
DirectorPittsburgh Teacher Center Projects
1983 - 1989
Co-Principal Investigator,Ford Foundation and Carnegie Corporation, Documentation Project:
Dropout Collaborative Project
1986 - 1989
Co-InvestigatorTheories of Evaluation Project
1976 - 1985
ACADEMIC
Administrative and Policy Studies, University of Pittsburgh
Professor1996 - Present
Associate Professor 1989 - 1996
Assistant Professor 1988
Research Associate Professor1984 - 1988
Foundations of Education, University of Pittsburgh
Research Assistant Professor 1974 - 1983
Hunter College, New York, New York
Instructor 1973
BASIC EDUCATION
Pittsburgh Board of Education
Vice Principal 1971 - 1972
Teacher1968 – 1971
COMMUNITY SERVICE
United Farm Workers, Los Angeles, CA
Community Organizer1972
VISTA
Bedford-Stuyvesant, New York City 1967 - 1968
CONSULTANT TO THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS
Benter Foundation2013-present
The Ball Foundation2008-2010
The Pittsburgh Public SchoolsFall 2006 -- 2007
The California Endowment Spring 2002- 2009
Packard Foundation Spring 2002 – 2003
Wallace Funds, 1998 – 2003
Heinz Endowments' Senior Management;
&Arts & Culture Program, 2000 – 2002
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, 2000 -2001
W. K. Kellogg Foundation, 1998-2002
KNLP Evaluation Design 1997-1998
National Foundation for the
Improvement of Education1995 - 1996
Annie E. Casey Foundation
American Federation of Teachers
(ER&D Program)1995 - 1997
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation1994 - 1995
The Grable Foundation1993 - 1998
Cleveland Initiative for Education1992 - 1998
National Humanities Center1992 – Present
Office of Child Development
University of Pittsburgh1991 - 2000
Community College of Allegheny County1994
Rockefeller Foundation
National Professional Development Project1993 - 1994
North Carolina Center for the Advancement
of Teaching, Western Carolina University 1985 - 1990
Rockefeller Foundation
Alternative Arts/Humanities Programs1988
Lilly Endowment
Middle Grades Improvement Project1986
National Academy of Sciences
Panel on Selection and Placement of Students
in Programs for the Mentally Retarded1980 - 1982
Pennsylvania State Department of Education
Title IV-C Reviewer1971 - 1978
Center for Social Policy and Community Development
Temple University1975 – 1977
HONORS
- Appointed to the Advisory Board for the Institute for International Studies in Education’s (IISE) new book series titled: Pittsburgh Studies in Comparative and International Education (PSCIE), with Sense Publishers.
- In The Encyclopedia of Evaluation (S. Mathison, Ed., 2005) Sage Publications, Thousand Oaks, CA
- American Educational Research Association, Division H, 1991 Outstanding Discussant Award (1991)
- American Educational Research Association, Division H Evaluation Utilization Award with Paul LeMahieu (1988)
PUBLICATIONS
BOOK
Cooley, W. W., & Bickel, W. E. (1986). Decision-oriented educational research. Boston, MA: Kluwer-Nijhoff Publishing.
CHAPTERS IN A BOOK
Bickel, W. E. and Beaujean, A. (2005). Effective schools for all: A brief history and some common findings, In: Editors, C. Frisby and C. Reynolds, Comprehensive Handbook of Multicultural School Psychology. Hoboken, N J: Wiley Press.
Leviton, L and Bickel, W. E. (2004). Integrating evaluation into foundation activity cycles, In: M. Braverman, J. K. Slater, N. Constantine, eds.: Foundations & Evaluation: Contexts & Practices for Effective Philanthropy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Kramer, M. , and Bickel, W. E. and (2004). In: M. Braverman, J. K. Slater, N. Constantine, eds.. Foundations & Evaluation: Contexts & Practices for Effective Philanthropy. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Nelson, C. A., Post, J., Bickel, W. E. (August, 2002). “Evaluating educational technology implementation: A two-part framework for assessing the institutionalization of technology in schools and classrooms,” In: The International Handbook of Evaluation , (Eds. T. Kellaghan, D. Stufflebeam, L. Wingate), Boston, MA: Kluwer Press.
Schramm, R., Bickel, W. E., McNelis, R., Pine, C., (2001). "School – University Collaboration: The National Humanities Center's secondary school faculty development project." In: The Many Faces of School/University Collaboration (Eds. M Handler & R. Ravid), Englewood, CO: Teacher Ideas Press, Libraries Unlimited Publishing.
Bickel, W. E. (1999). The implications of the effective schools literature for school restructuring. In T. B. Gutkin & C. R. Reynolds (Eds.), The Handbook of School Psychology (3rd Edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons Publishers.
Bickel, W. E., & Cooley, W. W. (1992). The role of evaluation in the development of the center. In A. G. Rud & W. P. Oldendorf (Eds.), A Place for Teacher Renewal. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.
Wallace, R. C., Jr., LeMahieu, P., & Bickel, W. E. (1990). The Pittsburgh experience: Achieving commitment to comprehensive staff development. In B. Joyce (Ed.), Staff development, the 1990 ASCD yearbook (pp. 185-202). Alexandria, VA: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development.
Bickel, W. E. (1990). The effective schools literature: Implications for research and practice. In T. B. Gutkin & C. R. Reynolds (Eds.), The Handbook of School Psychology (2nd Edition). New York: John Wiley & Sons Publishers.
Leinhardt, G., & Bickel, W. E. (1989). Instruction's the thing wherein to catch the mind that falls behind. In R. E. Slavin (Ed.), School and classroom organization (pp. 197-226). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Stein, M. K., Leinhardt, G., & Bickel, W. E. (1989). Instructional issues for teaching students at risk. In R. Slavin (Ed.), Effective programs for students at risk (pp. 145-194). Boston: Allyn & Bacon, Inc.
Bickel, W. E., & Bickel, D. D. (1988). Effective schools, classrooms, and instruction: Implications for special education. In L. H. Golubchick & B. Persky (Eds.), Urban, social, and educational issues (3rd ed.). Garden City Park, NY: Avery Publishing Group.
Bickel, W. E. (1982). Classifying mentally retarded children: A review of placement practices in special education. In K. A. Heller, W. H. Holtzman & S. Messick (Eds.), Placing children in special education: A strategy for equity. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.
MONOGRAPHS
Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E. (Spring 2011). “The use of intermediary organizations in philanthropy: A briefing report to The Heinz Endowments’ Education Program.” Pittsburgh, PA: Evaluation for Learning Project, Learning Research and development Center, University of Pittsburgh.
Iriti, J. E., Bickel, W. E. (April 2010). Secondary education in the United States: A briefing for the Heinz Endowments Education Program.
Bickel, W. E. (Editor). (2009). “Asking your way to organizational success: A guide to becoming a learning organization.” Strichman, Marshood, McKay (Authors). Haifa, Israel: Shatil The New Israel Fund's Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel.
McKay, E. G., Bickel, W. E. Gouri, H. (Editors), (2007), “So, How are we doing? Introducing Evaluative Processes to Your Organization,” Strichman & Marshood, Haifa, Israel: Shatil The New Israel Fund's Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel.
Strichman, N, Bickel, W. E., Marshood, F. (2007). User guide to evaluation. Haifa, Israel: Shatil The New Israel Fund's Empowerment and Training Center for Social Change Organizations in Israel.
Iriti, J., Bickel, W. E. (April, 2005). Strengthening school-based leadership: Issues and prospects in national relief. Pittsburgh, PA: A+ Schools.
Bickel, W. E., Millett, R., Nelson, C. A. (2002). Challenges to the Role of Evaluation in Supporting Organizational Learning in Foundations. Washington, D. C.: Council on Foundations.
Research Triangle Institute (Bickel with Clark, Koppich, Rooney). (November, 1999). "Assessing the supply and demand sides for research, development, and technical assistance in systemic reform." Research Triangle Institute: Research Triangle Park, NC.
Bickel, W. E., Johnston, J. A., LeMahieu, P., & Wallace, R. C., Jr. (Unpublished). School renewal through professional development: The Schenley High School Teacher Center.
Clark, T. A., Bickel, W. E., & Lacey, R. A. (1993). Transforming education for young adolescents. New York: Education Resources Group, Inc.
Bickel, W. E. (1978). Urban education reform: Curriculum development in Pittsburgh. Pittsburgh: Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh.
CHAPTERS IN MONOGRAPHS
Bickel, W. E., Bond, L., & Gibson, C. (1980). Minimum competency testing: A survey of urban league affiliates. In National Urban League (Ed.), Minimum competency testing: An Urban League perspective (pp. 1-10). New York: Educational Division, National Urban League.
Bickel, W. E. (1976). C/PBTE: A critical review. Published in the University of Pittsburgh Monograph, CBTE: Issues and Perspectives.
JOURNAL /INTERNET ARTICLES/ORGANIZATIONAL PUBLICATIONS
Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E. with Julie Meredith. (September 23, 2010). “Learning Protocol for Learning From Grantmaking.” In: Tip-of-the-Day by and for Evaluators Series, Washington, D. C.: American Evaluation Association.
Bickel, W. E., Iriti, J. E. (November 2009). “Making real choices happen in traditional public schools:
Lessons to be learned from non-traditional choice settings. Pittsburgh, PA: Learning Policy Center, University of Pittsburgh, www.lpc.pitt.edu.
Strichman, N., Bickel, W.E. (June, 2008). Adaptive capacity in Israeli social change nonprofits. Nonprofit & Volunteer Quarterly, Vol. 37, pp 224-248.
Iriti, J., Bickel, W. E., Nelson, C. A. (December, 2005). “Using recommendations in evaluation: A decision making framework,” American Journal of Evaluation. V 26, 4, pp.
Strichman, N., Bickel, W. E. (March, 2005). Foundations in Israel and the Relationship with
Grantees: An Exploratory Study. Israel: The Carmel Institute for Social Studies.
Bickel, W. E., Millett, R ., Nelson, C. A. (2002). Challenges to the Role of Evaluation in Supporting Organizational Learning in Foundation. Washington, D. C.: Council on Foundations,
Bickel, W. E., Nelson, C. A., Millett, R. (March/April, 2002). “The civic mandate to learn,” Foundation News and Commentary, pp. 42-47.
Nelson, C. A., Post, J., Bickel, W. E. (January, 2002). “Institutionalization of technology checklist,” (www.wmich.edu/evalctr/checklists). Kalamazoo, MI: The Evaluation Center, Western Michigan University.
Bickel, W. E . (August, 2000). "Structural and cultural constraints that affect the role of evaluation in foundations," In: Meeting Proceedings: Evaluation Roundtable, March 9-10, 2000., Editors: P. Patrizi, B. J. McMullan, E. C. Miller, Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & the Kellogg Foundation, Washington, D. C.
Bickel, W. E., Zigmond, N., McCall, R., McNelis, R. (October 1999). "Instructional support team best practices." PA Bureau of Special Education: Harrisburg, PA.
Bickel, W. E., Zigmond, N., McCall, R., (September 1998). "Documentation and Impact of Pennsylvania's Instructional Support Team Process." PA Bureau of Special Education: Harrisburg, PA.
Bickel, W. E., McNelis, R. (September/October, 1997). “Evaluation ways. Foundation News and Commentary. Council on Foundations, Vol. 38, 5.
LeMahieu, P., Bickel, W. E., (1997). What are internationally competitive standards? In Board on International Comparative Studies in Education, Taking Stock: What Have We learned About Making Standards Internationally Competitive? National Academy Press: Washington, D. C.
McNelis, R., Bickel, W. E. (1997). A national survey of small and mid-sized foundations: The role of evaluation.: Parts I & II, Foundation News and Commentary, Washington, D. C. Council on Foundations.
LeMahieu, P., Bickel, W. E., (1996). The public's and policy makers' perspectives on internationally competitive standards. In Board on International Comparative Studies in Education, Taking Stock: What Have We learned About Making Standards Internationally Competitive? National Academy of Sciences: Washington, D. C. (http://www.nas.edu).
McNelis, R. H., & Bickel, W. E. (1996). Building formal knowledge bases: Understanding evaluation use in the foundation community. Evaluation Practice, 17(1), 19-41.
Bickel, W. E., & Hattrup, R. A. (1995). Teachers and researchers in collaboration: Reflections on the process. American Educational Research Journal, 32(1), 35-62.
Eichelberger, R. T., Bickel, W. E., & Hattrup, R. A. (1995). Uses of qualitative and quantitative methods with positivistic and interpretive paradigms in private foundation evaluation. Manuscript submitted for publication in Evaluation Practice.
Bickel, W. E., Eichelberger, R. T., & Hattrup R. A. (1994). Evaluation use in private foundations: A case study. Evaluation Practice, 15(2), 169-178
Hattrup, R. A., & Bickel, W. E. (1993). Teacher-researcher collaborations: Resolving the tensions. Educational Leadership, 50(6), 38-40.
Bickel, W. E., & Hattrup, R. A. (Winter 1991-1992). A case study of institutional collaboration to enhance knowledge use: Restructuring practitioner-researcher dialogue in education. Knowledge and Policy: The International Journal of Knowledge Transfer and Utilization, 4(4), 56-78.
Bickel, W. E. (1992). [Review of A framework for evaluation inquiry]. Contemporary Psychology, 37(3), 241-242.
Bickel, W. E. (1992, Spring). [Review of Understanding educational evaluation]. Educational Studies, 23(1), 116-121.
Bickel, W. E., & Eichelberger, R. T. (1992, March/April). More than monitoring. Foundation News, 49-50.
Saltrick, D. S., Johnston, J. A., & Bickel, W. E. (1991, Winter). Establishing organization development strategies in secondary schools. Journal of Staff Development, 12(1), 52-55.
Johnston, J. A., Bickel, W. E., & Wallace, R. C., Jr. (1990, May). Building and sustaining change in the culture of secondary schools. Educational Leadership, 47(8), 46-48.
Bickel, W. E. (1990). Images of effective dropout programs [Review of Keeping students in school: A guide to effective dropout prevention programs and services.] Contemporary Psychology, 36(1), 73.
Bickel, W. E. (1989). Review of a client perspective on evaluation. Contemporary Psychology, 34(9), 503.
Martin, D. T., & Bickel, W. E. (1988). The educational experiences of ethnic and American students in the Pittsburgh Public Schools, 1911-1928. Midwestern History of Education Quarterly, 16, 149-166.
Bickel, W. E., & Eichelberger, R. T. (1988). A conversation with Ed Meade. Evaluation Practice, 9(1), 39-49.
Bickel, W. E., Denton, S. E., Johnston, J. A., LeMahieu, P. G., Saltrick, D., & Young, J. R. (1987). Clinical teachers at the Schenley Teacher Center: Teacher professionalism and educational reform. Journal of Staff Development, 8(2), 9-14.
Leinhardt, G., & Bickel, W. E. (1987). Instruction's the thing wherein to catch the mind that falls behind. Special issue of Educational Psychologist, 22(2), 177-207. Reprinted in Slavin, R. E. (Ed.), School and classroom organization (1989). Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Earlbaum Associates.
Bickel, W. E., & Bickel, D. D. (1986). Effective schools, classrooms, and instruction: Implications for special education. Exceptional Children, 52(6), 489-500. Reprinted in Golubchick, L. & Persky, B. (Eds.) Urban, Social, and Educational Issues (1988). Dubuque, Iowa: Kendall/Hunt Publishing Co.
Bickel, W. E., & Cooley, W. W. (1985) Decision-oriented educational research in school districts: The role of dissemination process. Studies in Educational Evaluation, 11, 183-203.
Bickel, W. E. (1984a). Evaluator-in-residence: New prospects for school district evaluation research. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 6(3), 297-306.
Bickel, W. E. (1984b). Stakeholder-based evaluation [Review of Stakeholder-based evaluation]. Educational Evaluation and Policy Analysis, 6(3), 323-324.
Bickel, W. E., & Artz, N. J. (1984). Improving instruction through focused team supervision. Educational Leadership, 41(7), 22-24.
Bickel, W. E. (1984). [Review of Special education policies: Their history, implementation, and finance; Special education and social control: Invisible disasters]. Educational Studies, 15(1), 79-84.
Wallace, R. C., Jr., Young, J., Johnston, J. A., LeMahieu, P., & Bickel, W. E. (1984). Secondary education renewal in Pittsburgh. Educational Leadership, 41(6), 73-77.
Bickel, W. E. (1983). Effective schools: A special issue with guest editor, William Bickel. Educational Researcher, 12(4), 3-31.
Bickel, W. E., & Martin, D. T. (1983). A history of the social and educational programs of the urban league of Pittsburgh 1918-1932. Midwest History of Education Journal, 11, 84-124.
Bickel, W. E., & Cooley, W. W. (1982). A district-wide needs assessment: How it worked and why. Discrepancy Digest, 5(1), 4-7.
Leinhardt, G., Bickel, W. E., & Pallay, A. (1982). Unlabeled but still entitled: Toward more effective remediation. Teachers College Record, 84(2), 391-422.
Bickel, W. E., Bond, L., & Carter, A. (1981) Educational priorities among urban black populations. Journal of Negro Education, 50(1), 3-8.
COMMISSIONED PAPERS and PRESENTATIONS
Iriti, J. E., & Bickel, W. E. (February 10, 2012). “Decision-oriented Educational Research: Research Design & Preliminary Findings from Realizing the Promise: The Scholar Retention & Persistence in Post Secondary Education Study.” Presentation to the LRDC Faculty.
Bickel, W. E. (April 2011). “Looking Inward to Keep the Promise: How Pittsburgh High Schools Prepare Students for Post-secondary Education –Study Overview & Selected Findings, Year Two. Symposium Sponsored by: Institute for Studies of International Education, University of Pittsburgh.
Bickel, W. E. Iriti, J., Nelson, C. (November 2008). “Shaping Foundation Investment Strategy in Educational Choice: The Role of Decision-oriented Educational Research.” Presented to the faculty and students of the Learning Sciences and Policy Center, University of Pittsburgh.
Bickel, W. E. Iriti, J., Nelson, C. (September 30, 2008). “A Strategic Partnership with the Heinz Endowments’ Education Program.” Pittsburgh, Pa: Heinz Endowments.
Bickel, W. E. Iriti, J., Nelson, C. (Fall, 2008). “Educational Leadership Initiative: A review of Evaluation Findings,” Pittsburgh, Pa: Heinz Endowments.
Bickel, W. E. Iriti, J., Nelson, C. (September, 2008). “Evaluation for Learning: A Strategic Partnership with the Heinz Endowments’ Education Program.” Pittsburgh, Pa: Heinz Endowments.
Bickel, W. E., (December 14, 2007). “Learning Opportunities in the TCE Grants Pipeline,” Commissioned presentation to the Senior Management Group, The California Endowment, Los Angeles, CA.
Bickel, W. E., (August, 2007). “Evaluation and strategy development in foundations,” Commissioned presentation to the Organizational Learning & Knowledge Management Group, The California Endowment, Los Angeles, CA.
Nelson, C. A., Bickel, W. E., & Iriti, J., with Murphy, N. (Fall 2006). District-Wide Urban High School Reform: What does it look like? What does it take to do it right? Scan of National Trends, Best Practices, and Empirical Research. Pittsburgh, PA: EFL, Learning Research and Development Center, University of Pittsburgh.
Bickel, W. E., (December, 2003). “Evaluation and strategy development in foundations,” Commissioned presentation to the Responsive Grant Making Program, The California Endowment, Woodland Hills, CA.
Bickel, W. E., (March, 2002). “Making a difference: Can you evaluate your effectiveness?” Sponsored by the Western Pennsylvania Grant-makers Association, November 1, 2002.
Bickel, W. E., (March, 2000). Barriers to effective use of evaluation in foundations." Presented to the "Evaluation Round Table," Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation & the Kellogg Foundation, Washington, D. C.
Bickel, W. E., "Designing Evaluations for the Educational Initiatives of the Heinz Endowments," (April 30, 1999). Presented to the Heinz Endowments "Early Care and Education Learning Partnership."
Bickel, W. E. (January 29, 1998). Using qualitative designs for the evaluation of system-wide educational reforms. Commissioned by MDRC, Educational Policy and Research Group. MDRC: New York, N.Y.
Bickel, W. E. with C. Nelson, (February, 19, 1998). “School restructuring evaluation project: Devolution of authority in the schools.” Presented to the Financial and Educational Assessment Panel, Pittsburgh, PA.
Bickel, W. E. with P. LeMahieu, (1996, November). The public's and policy makers' perspectives on internationally competitive standards. Commissioned by the Board on International Comparative Standards in Education of the National Academy of Sciences and National Research Council, Washington, D. C.
Bickel, W. E. (1995, June). Preparing decision-oriented educational researchers. Invited presentation to Visiting Scholars--University of West Indies & Representatives of the Caribbean Development Bank. Sponsored by the Center for Latin American Studies, University of Pittsburgh.
Bickel, W. E. (1995, April). Qualitative research methodology: Implications for foundation decision making. Invited Panel: Sponsored by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation: Princeton, N. J
Bickel, W. E. (1995, March). Using evaluation for program planning. Invited Address: American Federation of Teachers, Washington, DC.
Bickel, W. E. (1994, September). Perspectives on foundation use of evaluation. Invited Address: Western Pennsylvania Grant Makers Association Quarterly Meeting.
Bickel, W. E. (1994, July). Preparation of students to conduct evaluation. Invited Address: Seminar on "Designing a New Graduate Program in Education" for Educators from the Ministry of Education of Yemen. Institute for International Studies in Education in Collaboration with the Education Development Center in Washington, DC. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA.
Bickel, W. E. (1994, July). The role of documentation in evaluation. Invited Address: Improving Educational Quality Project. Institute for International Research in Collaboration with Juárez and Associates and the University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Bickel, W. E. (1994, January). Evaluation use in private foundations. Invited Address: Policy and Evaluation Program of the Office of Child Development. University of Pittsburgh Center for Social and Urban Research. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA.
Bickel, W. E. (1993, December). Evaluation of the Cleveland Initiative for Education: A status report. Invited Address: Board and Constituencies of the Cleveland Initiative for Education. Cleveland, OH.
Bickel, W. E. (1993, November). Using evaluation in foundation decision making. Invited Address: The Grable Foundation, Pittsburgh, PA.
Bickel, W. E., & Wallace, R. C., Jr. (1991). Data, planning, action results. Presentation to the District Leadership Team Institutes for School Improvement and Accountability (Naples/Jacksonville). Florida State Department of Education.