Research and Evaluation

The Department of Research and Evaluation conducts evaluation of some of the larger district programs under the portfolio of the Chief Education Officer, manages several external evaluation contracts for the district, and provides a consulting role for district departments as they plan and conduct their own evaluations. The Department is most interested in helping people frame and answer evaluation questions that are important to them and their programs, so please feel free to contact us if you have questions or need assistance about any program evaluation issues, especially as you prepare external grant applications that involve program evaluation sections.

Program evaluation is envisioned as the application of systematic research methods to assess program design, delivery, implementation, and effectiveness. More specifically, the purpose of program evaluation is to provide empirical information that is useful to program developers, program staff, program managers, senior management, policy makers, and other stakeholders. Evaluation activities are focused not only on the outcomes of various programs and organizational directives, but equally on the quality of program design and delivery as prerequisites for maximum impact.