|
Evaluation Findings | Back to Program Evaluation
Even Start programs are required to provide intensive services that make meaningful differences in literacy outcomes in the lives of low-income families. The Even Start program is complex and the role of the evaluation is to provide data-driven recommendations for improvement. Typically, evaluations provide recommendations in two primary areas: the quality of program implementation and participant outcomes.
What is Quality?
Evaluators often provide an overall assessment of the quality of the Even Start program by Program Element based on the data gathered. Such an assessment can be provided through use of a qualitative Likert-type scale as provided below:
Program Element 2 – Screening and Preparation of Participants
Program provides screening and preparation of parents, including teenage parents to enable parents to participate fully in the activities and services provided under this subpart, including testing, referral to necessary counseling, other developmental and support services, and related services. |
|
In addition, the overall rating is followed by a detailed discussion which includes such elements as:
-
Completion of project objectives
-
Descriptive statistics and/or displays of related data including performance data
-
An analysis of the data including successes and challenges and
-
Recommendations for improvement and/ or commendations for success
Many times, such an analysis can help the program see the forest and the trees.
In order to make changes and improve services, Even Start staff must first understand that objective measures and data point to the need for improvement or provide evidence that quality has been achieved. By providing data and analyses that staff can use, evaluations play a crucial role in assisting the move toward quality. In the case of Program Element 2, the definition of quality involves providing screening services and preparation services for all parents. Those services include testing, providing referrals as necessary, and providing support services. In regard to many Program Elements, evaluators can train local staff to gather and analyze the data themselves so that the evaluation processes truly do support mid-course corrections.
“Evaluation is about learning—learning how to assess progress in attaining results and learning how to make a program more effective in achieving results.”
- Guide to Local Evaluations of Even Start Family Literacy Programs, p. 3 |
By deconstructing the Even Start Program Elements we can examine the elements of quality delineated by Congress in the legislation:
Program Element 2 – Screening and Preparation of Participants
Program Element 4 – High Quality, Intensive Instruction
-
High quality adult literacy instruction
-
Intensive adult literacy instruction
-
Appropriate early childhood educational services
-
Preparation of children for success in regular school programs
Program Element 10 – Instruction Based on Scientific Reading Research
Program Element 12 – Reading Readiness Activities Based on Scientific Reading Research
|
