Evaluation
Evaluation Experience
The Institute has amassed a wealth of experience in conducting school and district evaluations since 1997, encompassing all areas of school practice and reform. Evaluations of school programs at the K-8 level have included schools involved in reform efforts such as the Comprehensive School Reform Program (CSR), Immediate Intervention Underperforming Schools Program (IIUSP), LEARN, The Los Angeles Annenberg Metropolitan Project (LAAMP), and charter schools associated with the Arthur Vining Foundation.
Evaluation Approach
The Institute employs an inclusive, collaborative, and formative approach to evaluation, from planning through implementation. Institute directors communicate closely with clients throughout the process to ensure that the evaluation design meets client's needs. Institute researchers work collaboratively with school personnel, representing all school community members, to gather accurate, valid, and comprehensive data regarding school practices. Data collection protocols and tools are developed at the Institute in accordance with the specific questions that drive the evaluation. The institute communicates preliminary findings back to the school community to impact the continuous learning and improvement of all school community members. Final reports and presentations of findings, therefore, are never a surprise; they consist of a summary of questions addressed together, data collection methods engaged inclusively, and triangulated findings from all data sources.
Sample Evaluation Products
- Focus group protocols
- Interview protocols
- Classroom observation protocol
- Collegial meeting protocol
- Written and oral evaluation reports
- Identification and dissemination of best practices
- Identification of next steps
Staff Experience
The staff at the Institute at Indian Hill consists of researchers who are trained and experienced in a wide range of qualitative and quantitative methods of data collection and analysis. In addition, all Institute staff members are current or former school practitioners covering all levels of the education community—classroom teachers, site-based teacher leaders, teacher specialists, school administrators, and district administrators. Therefore, the staff of the Institute offers both depth and breadth of expertise in school practices, such as school management, professional learning communities, shared leadership, assessments for learning, data use, professional development, research-based instructional strategies (Marzano, etc.), English language development strategies, classroom management, etc. Staff expertise ranges elementary, secondary, and post-secondary levels.
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