| Session Title: Ensuring Consistently High Quality Local Evaluations: Lessons From an Evaluation of a Multi-site Education Program |
| Think Tank Session 386 to be held in Sebastian Section I3 on Thursday, Nov 12, 4:30 PM to 6:00 PM |
| Sponsored by the Cluster, Multi-site and Multi-level Evaluation TIG |
| Presenter(s): |
| Ardice Hartry, MPR Associates, ahartry@mprinc.com |
| Discussant(s): |
| Patty O'Driscoll, Public Works Inc, patty@publicworks.org |
| Beverly Farr, MPR Associates, bfarr@mprinc.com |
| Abstract: What changes can be made to the grant selection process to ensure consistently high quality evaluations local evaluations? In this session, we will tap the expertise of evaluators to answer this question. Participants will be divided into three groups, each of which will be provided with a summary of two evaluation plans from a state-funded multi-site program. Each group will review the plans and use a protocol to determine strength and weaknesses. When we reconvene as a large group, each small group will report out its findings, which will guide the search for commonalities. Then the group will discuss how changes to the Request for Proposal or other processes may increase quality and forestall problems in evaluation design and execution. Throughout this session, evaluators will have the opportunity to reflect on their own practice in ways that will help them to improve the quality of their work in local evaluations. |