In July 2005 the Corporation for National and Community Service released The AmeriCorps Rule that went into effect September 6, 2005. Included in this AmeriCorps Rule are evaluation requirements AmeriCorps programs must follow if programs plan on re-competing for a second three-year funding cycle.

The follow material provides information that can help you meet these evaluation requirements. This material can help you become a consumer of evaluation, providing you with the knowledge to plan for an evaluation and monitor the progress of your evaluation so that your evaluation results will be meaningful and useful for you.

What Is an Evaluation Question? (PDF)*
Basic Steps to developing an evaluation question

I. Key Terms (PDF)
This packet includes these documents:

• Performance Measurement and Evaluation
• Independent versus Internal Evaluation
• Summative versus Formative Evaluation
• Association, Correlation, Causality

II. Steps in Designing an Evaluation (PDF)
This packet includes these documents:

• Five Steps in Designing an Evaluation
• Evaluation Implementation Timeline
• Preparing for an Evaluation
• Evaluation Schedule

III. Selecting an Evaluator (PDF)
This packet includes these documents:

• Pros and Cons of Internal and External Evaluators
• Verification for an External Evaluator
• Identifying and Hiring an Evaluator
• Evaluator Assessment
• Sample Evaluator Position Description
• Sample Professional Service Agreement

Hiring the Right Evaluator (PDF)
Guidelines for selecting and working with an appropriate external evaluator.

Study Designs for Program Evaluation (PDF)
This packet includes a description of three types of evaluation designs (exploratory, descriptive, and experimental), and a checklist to help you determine what type of evaluation design would meet your needs.

Frequently Asked Questions: Evaluation
The Corporation's responses to frequently asked questions regarding evaluation requirements.

Sample Evaluation Plans and Templates
Click on the links below to access these documents:

Evaluation Plan Sample (DOC)
Example of a completed sample Evaluation Plan. Evaluation Plans can be designed in many different ways. Using the elements of this Evaluation Plan is optional.

Contents of an Evaluation Plan (DOC)
An outline of suggested categories for an evaluation plan.

Community Tool Box (Developing an Evaluation Plan)
This helpful website was created and is maintained by the Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kansas.

Evaluation Plan Template
This is a concise list of evaluation plan components from Interactive Learning Systems: Evaluation by Thomas C. Reeves and John G. Hedberg.

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