Program Evaluation Framework

Program evaluation is an integral part of the strategic goals of the district. The role of program evaluation in the district is to assess progress towards the intermediate and long-term goals of its programs. In particular, this group evaluates the performance of various school and district programs combined with the contributions of changes in policy and infrastructure that support the various programs’ long-term impacts on CPS. 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.

Program evaluation applies systematic research methods to assess program design, delivery, implementation, and effectiveness. It provides empirical information that is useful to program developers, program staff, program managers, senior district management, policy makers, and other stakeholders. This information serves to help:

• Develop and promulgate new program(s) (Program design);
• Assess the delivery and implementation of existing program(s) (Program delivery);
• Assess program effectiveness (Program outcomes).

Evaluation efforts that are responsive to these three areas are scheduled to occur annually and in specific instances occur throughout the year on an ongoing basis. Evaluation information, or feedback, is provided via the established infrastructure of the organization (e.g., scheduled team or committee meetings, written reports, facilitated presentations) and encompasses lessons learned from evaluation at all levels. 

A fundamental principle of these evaluation efforts is mixed-method inquiry where a method is defined as a procedure for gathering or analyzing data. Examples of methods include surveys, interviews, observations, test scores, grades, focus groups, and archival records. Each method can gather information that is quantitative or qualitative. These evaluation efforts and goals of the district are consistent with the guiding principles delineated by the American Evaluation Association and the Joint Committee for Standards for Educational Evaluation.  

The responsibilities suggested by this evaluation framework are shared by the Department’s internal evaluation staff as well as external evaluation consultants and advisors.