Evaluation and Performance Reporting
The federal Even Start program is evaluated on a national level as well as at the state and local level. All local projects must collect data regarding indicators of participant performance and quality program implementation. These data are collected through the state data reporting system and an annual independent local evaluation. Even Start assessment requirements include: universal screening; progress monitoring; diagnostics, if needed; outcome assessment; and program quality assessment.
Legislation requires a national-level evaluation of Even Start. Though this mandate has changed slightly over the years, the national evaluation’s basic purposes have remained the same: to describe Even Start projects and participants, to examine the performance and effectiveness of Even Start projects, and to identify effective Even Start projects for use in program improvement and technical assistance.
OSPI is required to submit annual reports to the U.S. Department of Education regarding the state's progress in meeting its indicators of quality program implementation and participant performance. Local Even Start projects will be required to submit data on a monthly basis, and OSPI will download reports semi-annually to monitor program implementation and participant performance through the OSPI web based data reporting system.
Each Even Start project is required to conduct an independent evaluation of the program to be used for program improvement. (See section 1235(15) of the ESEA.) These evaluations provide local projects with critical information on areas of strength and weakness and are used to improve program services and participant outcomes. These evaluations also provide local projects, states, the U.S. Department of Education, and the Congress with objective data about the activities and services provided by the project, the participants served, the retention rates of those participants, and the achievement of the families in the project.
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