| Session Title: Strategic Planning: Building Capacity for Evaluation During the Planning Process |
| Demonstration Session 678 to be held in Laguna B on Friday, Nov 4, 1:35 PM to 2:20 PM |
| Sponsored by the Disabilities and Other Vulnerable Populations |
| Presenter(s): |
| Paula Kohler, Western Michigan University, paula.kohler@wmich.edu |
| June Gothberg, Western Michigan University, june.gothberg@wmich.edu |
| Rashell Bowerman, Western Michigan University, rashell.l.bowerman@wmich.edu |
| Jennifer Coyle, Western Michigan University, jennifer.coyle@wmich.edu |
| Abstract: This session will demonstrate the National Secondary Transition Technical Assistance Center's (NSTTAC) capacity-building strategic planning process and open source tools. NSTTAC provides capacity-building technical assistance to state and local education agencies and has conducted strategic planning with over 500 teams. In our work, we found teams that do not plan for evaluation during the strategic planning process, most often do not conduct evaluations or evaluations are conducted without enough intensity to identify the degree to which teams met their anticipated outcomes. Participants of this session will gain knowledge in how to lead stakeholders in a strategic planning meeting through data-based self-assessment, needs identification, and goal setting with an emphasis on evaluating outcomes. We will demonstrate how to empower stakeholder to ask themselves the questions that lead to increased sound evaluation practices. Discussion is encouraged to share challenges preparing and empowering individuals new to the idea of evaluation. |