Developing a Learning Community of Out-of-School Time Evaluators
Beginning in 2005, NYSAN has convened evaluators and researchers in the afterschool field to consider the possibility of developing a common set of indicators and evaluation tools to advance the quality of afterschool programs throughout New York State. The NYSAN Evaluators' Group works to increase evaluation use in the out-of-school time field and support the contribution of evaluation to the generation of theory and knowledge about afterschool programs, including their effects on participating youth and the factors that contribute to their quality.
Goals of the NYSAN Evaluators' Group
- To form a learning community of evaluators of out-of-school time youth programs in New York State.
Activities:
- Convene semi-annually to discuss challenges of evaluation methodology and implementation, make individual presentations of research findings, etc.
- Disseminate findings from evaluations of afterschool programs operating throughout New York State through panel presentations at relevant conferences.
- Facilitate informal networking through meetings and online discussion.
- To improve evaluation theory, practice and methods in the out-of-school time context.
Activities:
- Identify appropriate short- and long-term outcomes for out-of-school time programs.
- Develop core evaluation indicators which could be used to compare results from a diverse group of out-of-school time programs throughout New York State.
- Develop guidance documents on promising evaluation methods.
- Develop guidance documents on connecting intervention strategies to appropriate outcomes.
- To serve as informal advisors to public and private funders on issues related to evaluation and reporting.
Activities:
- Prepare and disseminate recommendations to funders on how reporting and evaluation procedures can be improved.
Membership
The NYSAN Evaluators' Group is an association of practicing evaluators from the public and private sectors who are responsible for conducting program assessments or evaluations of out-of-school time programs in New York State. The Group defines evaluation broadly as the assessment of strengths and weaknesses of programs, policies, personnel or afterschool organizations to improve their effectiveness. The Evaluators' Group is not intended to serve those who are consumers, as opposed to producers, of evaluation results.
For more information about the NYSAN Evaluators' Group, contact Ajay Khashu at akhashu@tascorp.org or (646) 943-8844 or Candace Mayer LaRue at candace@candacelarue.com or (845) 750-7933.
