1. Testing the pupils:
Initial testing (October 2005): knowledge and aptitude tests and socialization questionnaires in 49 schools which are experimentally implementing the CNES elements and 49 control schools, i.e. their counterparts Inter-testing (February 2006): additional educational and socialization questionnaires for the sub-sample of pupils attending experimental and control schools Final testing (May 2006): knowledge and aptitude tests and socialization questionnaires in 49 schools experimentally implementing the CNES elements, 49 control schools - their counterparts, and 49 new control schools for the purpose of registering the effect of the participation in the assessment process.
2. Polling and interviewing the school reform participants:
Questionnaires for headmasters (October 2005/May 2006): 98 headmasters of the schools included in the CNES Assessment Programme and some 750 headmasters of all elementary schools in the Republic of Croatia Teachers (November/December 2005): about 3,500 teachers employed in 98 schools included in the CNES Assessment Programme Focus groups and in-depth interviews with headmasters, teachers, expert co-operators (February/May 2006): about 50 focus groups and 100 interviews.
3. Polling and interviewing the participants from the local community:
Questionnaires for parents (November/December 2006): about 13,000 parents/guardians of the pupils included in the initial assessment stage Focus groups and in-depth interviews with the participants from the local community (parents, entrepreneurs, local self-government, representatives of the religious community) (February/May 2006): about 50 focus groups and 100 interviews.
4. Comparison of the CNES with the regulations, programmes and requirements of the educational system in the European Union (by June 2006).
5. Creating recommendations:
Creating recommendations for the advancement and improvement of the quality of teaching programmes and work methods based on the initial results (June 2006).