He will also assess the Army's drill-sergeant and basic-training programs.

But administration officials said it was more difficult to assess specific programs for effectiveness and value for money than to review managerial practices in a department.

The report was commissioned to assess programs designed to help low-income students, said an aide to Senator Kennedy.

In their review, they included studies published from 1966 to 2003, finding 108 that assessed commercial programs.

There is also no common or standard means for assessing, implementing or evaluating programs.

It recommends frequent and rapid monitoring studies to assess programs and policies.

Continuously assess member needs and interests and develop programs to serve members.

They also provide customer support and are involved with assessing programs they implement.

More importantly, in the industry's view, it shifts more responsibility for assessing programs to parents.