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Help Measuring Outcomes
We are interested in knowing the extent to which your project
achieves your goals. We know you are too! We will be most successful in
measuring outcomes if we plan for them up front. So as part of your proposal,
we ask you to think about the results. Think in terms of the following rubric:
| Direction of
Change |
Change Area |
Target
Population |
Degree of Change
|
Time Frame |
Evaluated through
|
Sample
Choices:
Increase
Decrease
Eliminate
|
Awareness
Knowledge
Skills
Attitudes
Behavior
Conditions
|
Grade
level
School-wide
Classes
Teachers
|
Percentages
Numbers |
Project
End
Year End
Longer term
|
Standard
tests
Pre/Post Tests
Surveys
Discipline records
Referrals
|
| Example#1
Increase |
Awareness of the
dangers of smoking |
Among high school
juniors and seniors |
520 students
|
by end of project
|
Attendance at
assembly, Essays written for health class |
| Example #2
Decrease |
Disruptive
behavior (fighting, verbal abuse, bullying) |
Among LIS fifth
graders in hallways between classes |
by 15% from 2004
figures |
by June 2006
|
Discipline
reports Guidance referrals School climate Survey results |
Data Collection:
Make sure that you have your
starting data at the beginning of your project: From Example #1 –
what is the awareness of students about the dangers of smoking – you might
do a survey questionnaire checking level of awareness before your
program.
Then plan your outcomes evaluation into your project timeline:
From Example #2 – Prepare a school climate survey and administer it
to 5th graders to see if they perceive an improvement in hallway etiquette.
Reporting Outcomes to LTEF
The LTEF trustees, funders,
and sponsors want to know if their efforts are having a significant impact.
While it is nice to get the “warm & fuzzy” report about how the
students enjoyed the program, it is also helpful to have some data supporting
the post-program feelings. Your grant buddy will ask you about the impact of
your project.
What if the News is not Good?
As a foundation that
fosters “educational excellence, creativity and achievement,” the
LTEF recognizes that some projects do not accomplish all that you hope for.
That is OK with us … if all of our projects succeed, we are not taking
enough risks! But we do want you to report to us what happened along with your
feelings about your outcomes. Your honest appraisal will help us to make
informed funding decisions in the future.
Email Diane Senerth with data and questions
at info@ltefnj.org.
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