Types of Evaluation

Public Works, Inc. works with clients on three distinct types of evaluation:

* Third-Party Evaluation. An objective, unbiased and research-driven assessment of a program or particular intervention. Third-party evaluations are often selected as part of an outside funding or legislative accountability requirement, and require us to keep some distance from the client. There is less negotiation or discussion between the client and evaluator during the evaluation process.

* Participatory Evaluation. Collection of process and outcome data informs the implementation of programs and systems and assists the client as part of planning and evaluation. We work closely with the client to ensure that the implementation process is aligned with program or project goals, and meet regularly with the client and participate in most planning meetings.

* Public Engagement Evaluation. Highlighting best practices or efforts to be documented and disseminated to internal and external audiences. We work with the client to develop appropriate criteria that guides the identification of program strategies or components to be communicated to interested stakeholders or the public at large.

Related evaluation services include:

* Comprehensive Needs Assessment. As part of a data-driven planning process, we have considerable experience designing and conducting needs assessments for a range of schools, social service agencies and employer organizations. Our expertise in qualitative research, community resource mapping, and parent and community engagement results in a descriptive and thorough needs-assessment process that informs decisionmaking and program development with a concrete plan of action linked to the findings.

* Data Teams. We strongly believe in using data to document program strengths and weaknesses as part of a process of continuous improvement. We have extensive experience working with organizations and schools to develop their capacity to make data-driven decisions. We offer training aimed at understanding and promoting the use of data for strategic planning and ongoing improvement efforts. Working with an action team or group of stakeholders, we bolster clients' capacity to develop evaluation instruments, collect data and analyze results.

* Gap Analysis. As part of regional planning processes, we use our data collection expertise to identify the gaps that exist between current community and stakeholder needs and currently available services and programs and whether those resources can meet the needs now and in the future. By providing the data necessary for making joint decisions, we conduct gap analyses designed to support community leaders representing multiple stakeholder groups in crafting action plans that support community-wide action.

* Test Development. In light of accountability efforts at all levels of education, we support clients in the development of standards-based testing systems. We help clients design assessments that measure the range of standards essential for the success of today's students, and encourage the use of multiple assessments to improve curriculum and instruction, measure individual student learning and certify mastery of academic, employability and occupational skills.

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