Limited resources for educational programs combined with increasing expectations for evidence of impact has made program evaluation more important than ever as a key decision-making strategy for district leaders. Today, programs must define intended results in terms of improving student learning and achievement.
 
PCG-CRM Program Evaluation Services focus on results, provide a comprehensive examination of program effectiveness, and highlight areas for improvement. PCG-CRM has conducted evaluations of local, state, and federally funded programs, specific interventions, and school reform initiatives. We bring expertise and experience in the evaluation of reading, mathematics, and special education programs, and have also provided third-party evaluation services for Smaller Learning Communities (SLC) grantees. With more than 20 years of providing program evaluation services for educational agencies, we are well-equipped to provide the formative and summative evaluations necessary to meet federal reporting requirements and, of equal importance, to help schools and districts monitor the progress of school reform initiatives.
 
PCG-CRM's evidence-based evaluation designs employ methodologies that triangulate data from three sources in arriving at findings and recommendations. The three components of the design focus on:

1. Robust analyses of student achievement patterns
2. An integrated analysis of program, school, and district factors that have an impact on instructional effectiveness and student achievement
3. Best practices from the research and practice knowledge base that can inform program improvement.
 
PCG-CRM Program Evaluation Services utilize both quantitative and qualitative methodologies to acquire evidence of impact and program effectiveness. We emphasize a participatory approach that engages district and school administrators, program directors, teachers, and other stakeholders in the process. We call this our Collaborative Evaluation Model.

Our methods incorporate the use teacher and student surveys, focus groups, and individual interviews to acquire data on key aspects of program implementation that include: curriculum and instruction; assessment; teacher collaboration expectations and school climate; reading and mathematics intervention; and teacher professional development. Quantitative methods include growth and gains analyses of the longitudinal progress of students in specific programs.
 
Our approach is designed to provide formative feedback to guide improvement as well as summative data to demonstrate program effects. This approach enables superintendents and other leaders to systematically identify program strengths as well as the factors that are inhibiting program effectiveness.