In 2007, Senior Corps formed a working group to develop a set of optional work plans and instruments measuring outcomes related to preschool, Head Start, literacy, and mentoring programs for youth. This working group includes a State Office Director and several Foster Grandparent project directors. Below are links to the four draft performance measurement work plans and instruments developed by this working group with assistance from Project STAR. Included in the documents are instructions for administering the instruments and summarizing the data.

• Preschool Activity (draft) (DOC)
• Head Start Activity (draft) (DOC)
• Elementary School Literacy Activity (draft) (DOC)
• Mentoring Activity (draft) (DOC)

These work plans and instruments illustrate one approach to standardizing performance measurement indicators across multiple projects. Developing standardized work plans and instruments requires balancing the desire of project directors for work plans that express the unique characteristics of their individual projects (e.g., ways of delivering services, conditions under which data are collected, etc.) with the desire to standardize work plans and instruments across multiple projects. It is also important to maintain high standards for measuring performance by using instruments that collect valid and reliable data.

Project STAR is available to assist Senior Corps programs to develop work plans and instruments that balance stakeholder needs while maintaining high standards for measuring performance.