Guidelines for Managing the Evaluation Plan

This KnowledgeBase archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.

Make sure that the design of the evaluation is valid, reliable, credible, and realistic before the start of the program. One approach for ensuring adequacy is to design a set of standards by which to review the evaluation design–these standards would be based on the features of the evaluation that are most important to this site, for this program. Another approach is to follow the criteria developed by the Joint Committee for Standards for Educational Evaluation. This Joint Committee offers a comprehensive framework for developing standards in defining, designing, administering, collecting, analyzing, budgeting, contracting, reporting, and staffing an evaluation.

Every good evaluation plan specifies evaluation activities that should be monitored to ascertain that the original design is implemented faithfully. Strategies to follow in monitoring evaluation practices include:

Unanticipated circumstances in a project's activities, or in the general school context, may require changes in an evaluation plan. Arrangements should be made for periodic examination of the original evaluation plan and for modifications as necessary.

1. Develop time frames to mark the milestones or dates on which products must be delivered and/or major activities must be concluded.
   • Interview and observe key personnel to determine whether project activities conform to the approved evaluation plan.
   • Ensure that the data collection efforts are carried out as planned by creating information checks. Train staff on proper test/assessment administration and data collection procedures. Create filing systems in which to store information as it is collected train staff to utilize these as well. Systematically check all data gathering activities.
   • Contact your project officer to ensure that the changes are approved by your funding source or your district.
   • Update key personnel, including the evaluator, regarding the approved changes in activities and timeline.
   • Document the changes and include them in the annual performance report."
2. Assess the adequacy of the evaluation design
3. Monitor the practice of the evaluation design
4. Revise the evaluation design as needed

Source:

Evaluation Handbook, Evaluation Assistance Center, NHMU, Albuquerque NM 1995

The contents of this website were developed under a grant from the U.S. Department of Education and are intended for general reference purposes only. However, those contents do not necessarily represent the policy of the U.S. Department of Education or the Center, and you should not assume endorsement by the Federal Government. Some resources on this site require Adobe Acrobat Reader. This website archive includes content and external links that were accurate and relevant as of September 30, 2019.