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Session Title: Weaving Collaborative Learning Principles into a Multi-dimensional Evaluation of an Early Learning Partnership
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Panel Session 398 to be held in Fairmont Suite on Thursday, November 8, 1:55 PM to 3:25 PM
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Sponsored by the Pre-K - 12 Educational Evaluation TIG
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| Chair(s): |
| Allison Titcomb,
LeCroy & Milligan Associates Inc,
allison@lecroymilligan.com
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| Discussant(s):
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| LaVonne Douville,
United Way of Tucson,
ldouville@unitedwaytucson.org
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| Abstract:
Early learning partnerships seek to improve the quality of early education for children. The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona's First Focus on Quality project illustrates how evaluation design and methods can be intentionally crafted to enhance the collaborative learning and relationships among partners as well as long- term planning and resource development. Session presenters will describe how evaluators and evaluation methods were integrated with each step of the process from conceptualization of the quality rating system to sustainable early learning efforts and with partners ranging from child care center staff through the Arizona governor's office. The purpose of this session is to increase awareness of the connection between evaluation and collaborative learning for novice evaluators and to increase "tool box" strategies for seasoned evaluators. Active discussion and reflection from session participants will be encouraged.
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Improving Early Learning Quality: A Long Range Vision
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| LaVonne Douville,
United Way of Tucson,
ldouville@unitedwaytucson.org
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LaVonne Douville will provide an overview of the history of the project, the vision and mission of the early learning efforts from United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, and will discuss the relationship between the project and the governor's office and other state agencies.
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Collaborative Learning and Evaluation Design
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| Allison Titcomb,
LeCroy & Milligan Associates Inc,
allison@lecroymilligan.com
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Allison Titcomb served as the lead evaluator and will describe the utilization-focused and learner-centered perspectives that were included in the evaluation design. She will also give examples of the different roles the evaluation team was asked to fill and short descriptions of the evaluation methods and tools used to serve the project.
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Using Quality Ratings and Feedback to Assist Center Learning
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| Allyson Baehr,
LeCroy & Milligan Associates Inc,
allyson@lecroymilligan.com
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Allyson Baehr served as an evaluator using the quality rating tools and provided written and verbal reports to over 25 centers as part of the ELOA grant. She helped fine tune the implementation of the ratings and was instrumental in providing feedback both to the centers and to the partnering agencies involved in the project.
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Learning From Quality Rating Results and Other Partner Evaluations
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| Jen Kozik,
LeCroy & Milligan Associates Inc,
jen@lecroymilligan.com
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Jen Kozik served as the evaluator for one of the partners and completed statistical analysis on the pre and post quality ratings for the overall project. She will provide a perspective on challenges encountered with data analysis and how interpretation of the results were communicated back to the individual partners to maximize program improvement decisions.
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A Practitioner's View
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| Ellen Droegemeier,
Tucson Unified School District,
eleanor.droegemeier@tusd.k12.az.us
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Eleanor Droegemeier has been involved with the local efforts to improve quality child care since 1999. She is a Preschool Program Director for the Tucson Unified School District and is a Chair of the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona's First Focus on Kids Impact Council. She brings a concrete perspective to the results of the ELOA grant and will provide a practioner's view on the value of the collaborative approach used in the grant and other United Way efforts.
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