Effective Program Evaluation

Educators are increasingly coming to realize the importance of making decisions based on reliable, accurate data. This short guide provides a blueprint for evaluating academic programs, practices, or strategies within a simple, effective framework. It includes a step-by-step walkthrough of the program evaluation cycle and an appendix that explains vital concepts and vocabulary in accessible language.

Mardale Dunsworth served as the director of professional development for the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington State. Ms. Dunsworth led the design and development of an innovative technology-enhanced statewide professional development and certification system including the design and creation of an online licensing process, an events registration site, and a centralized registry for high-quality professional development connecting school improvement planning and professional growth planning for teachers.

As the director of curriculum, instruction, and professional technical education at the Oregon Department of Education, Ms. Dunsworth administered federal grant programs and designed and managed the state s assistance program to low-achieving schools.

Ms. Dunsworth s legislative experience includes her work as the legislative liaison to the Senate and House Education Committees. She holds a bachelor s degree in public policy and administration and a master s degree in education (curriculum and instruction).

Dawn Billings served as assistant superintendent of public instruction for the state of Washington. Ms. Billings led the design and development of Washington State Professional Development Standards that provided the research base for Washington s school and district efforts in professional development. She was responsible for providing statewide professional development for administrators and teachers, including research-based professional development institutes attended by more than 9,000 educators annually.

As the director of curriculum and instruction for the Oregon Department of Education, Ms. Billings led the design of services to low-achieving schools, the development of the grade-level standards in English and language arts, math, science, social studies, the arts, physical education, and foreign languages. She was the coauthor of Oregon s Reading First grant program and the state charter schools program.

Ms. Billings has taught middle and high schools in urban and rural school districts and held a variety of administrative positions in public education and business and industry. She has a bachelor s degree in education (history), and a master s degree in secondary education.

Mardale Dunsworth and Dawn Billings founded School Synergy in 2005. Strong advocates for the use of a rich mix of survey, interview, observational, student learning, and achievement data for decision making, Ms. Dunsworth and Ms. Billings are coauthors of The High-Performing School: Benchmarking the 10 Indicators of Effectiveness, a ForeWord magazine Book of the Year finalist. Among its other projects, School Synergy was selected as a turnaround partner by one of the Race to the Top states, where it is working to provide the research-based evaluation processes, strategic interventions, and ongoing progress-monitoring system in which student learning is accelerated and the learning environment supports students, staff, and families.