It’s well documented that student well-being is connected to academic success. But if program funding is at risk in many school districts, how can leaders continue to fuel student success initiatives? Program evaluation provides a process for districts to critically assess new and existing programs to gauge whether they’re working or if they need improvements.
Download this checklist to learn all the steps you need to conduct a systematic, evidence-based process to measure program effectiveness, including:
- Designing a program plan
- Setting evaluation goals
- Deciding what data to monitor
- Sharing findings with community members
“Today’s K–12 students continue to experience a host of hardships related to their mental, emotional, social, and physical health. Districts are spending significant time and money (including dwindling ESSER funds) to support student well-being. But how do district and school leaders know if these programs are working or are worth continuing?”
Why K–12 Districts Don’t Conduct Program Evaluations
Decades of research show that a safe and supportive school climate with opportunities for SEL are linked to improved student achievement and engagement outcomes. But not every school or district evaluates their well-being programs to verify if they are maximizing results for students or to find out if a program or initiative’s financial investment is worth it.
Although K–12 program evaluation is effective, some schools and districts struggle to regularly conduct it because it involves some know-how and resources. Most education leaders don’t receive training in how to conduct program evaluation. In fact, just 53% of school administrators feel fully equipped to do so. Effective program evaluation also takes some time and staffing resources because the process involves collecting and analyzing data.
However, if students need additional support and only 48% of teachers are confident in their ability to develop students’ self-management skills, district leaders must not only equip educators with training, but also prioritize program evaluation. Doing so enables districts to quantify program results, measure student outcomes over time, make informed budget decisions, and articulate those changes to the community.
