NCJ Number
49576
Date Published
1977
Length
10 pages
Annotation
THE APPROACH TAKEN BY THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE, TO PROBLEMS SURROUNDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF EVALUATIONS AND THE USE OF EVALUATION FINDINGS IN FEDERAL PAROGRAMS IS DESCRIBED.
Abstract
THERE ARE FOUR PROBLEM AREAS IN PROGRAM EVALUATION: (1) RESOURCES; (2) ORGANIZATIONAL PLACEMENT OF THE EVALUATION FUNCTION; (3)METHODOLOGY; AND (4) DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION OF EVALUATION FINDINGS. AT THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION, WITH ITS 25 TO 30 FULL-TIME EVALUATION STAFF MEMBERS AND $15-MILLION BUDGET (1977), LACK OF RESOURCES IS NO LONGER THE OBSTACLE TO EVALUATION THAT IT ONCE WAS. ORGANIZATIONAL PLACEMENT OF THE EVALUATION FUNCTION IS SUCH THAT THERE ARE AVENUES BY WHICH EVALUATION RESULTS CAN BE BROUGHT TO BEAR ON POLICY AND BUDGET DECISIONS. SOUNDNESS OF METHODOLOGY IS PARTICULARLY IMPORTANT IN THE EVALUATION OF CONTROVERSIAL SOCIAL ACTION PROGRAMS, BECAUSE THE FINDINGS OF THESE EVALUATIONS ARE BOUND TO COME UNDER ATTACK FROM SOME QUARTER. THE OFFICE OF EDUCATION HIRES TECHNICALLY QUALIFIED EVALUATION STAFF WHO DESIGN EVALUATIONS IN-HOUSE AND PROVIDE HIGHLY DETAILED SPECIFICIATIONS--SAMPLE SIZE, CONTROL GROUP PROCEDURES, OUTCOME MEASURES--FOR THE CONTRACTORS WHO CARRY OUT THE EVALUATIONS. THE OFFICE ADDRESSES THE MATTER OF DISSEMINATION AND UTILIZATION BY PREPARING LAYMAN'S SUMMARIES OF ALL EVALUATION REPORTS. UNDER DEVELOPMENT IS A SYSTEM OF MEMORANDA THAT WILL POINT OUT THE PROGRAM, POLICY, LEGISLATIVE, AND BUDGETARY IMPLICATIONS OF EVALUATIONS. IT SHOULD BE REMEMBERED THAT, ALTHOUGH THERE IS A MOVEMENT TOWARD RATIONALIZATION OF DECISIONMAKING, POLICYMAKING, AND RESOURCE ALLOCATION, EVALUATION FINDINGS ARE NOT AN AUTOMATIC DECISIONMKING MECHANISM. EVALUATION IS ONLY ONE INPUT INTO DECISIONS THAT ARE PLURALISTIC AND POLITICAL. (LKM)