"Thank you for the thoughtful report which reflects our strengths and weaknesses. The findings have guided our conversations during planning for improvement. As a result, we will be more effective."
– Program evaluation client
Evaluation & Research Associates (ERA) specializes in the evaluation of programs supporting science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) equity, informal and formal education, and teacher professional development, and conducts research related to those content areas. We collaborate with clients to measure results, report outcomes, inform decision-making, and increase program success.
Our Evaluation Approaches
Utilization-focused: Ensure the evaluation is useful for its desired purpose
Outcomes-based: Examine participant knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors to identify what components are effective in achieving outcomes
Capacity Building: Facilitate the increase of clients’ evaluation skills
Participatory: Work collaboratively to design and implement an evaluation that is tailored to client and stakeholder needs
Our Achievements
- Currently evaluating eleven projects funded by the National Science Foundation.
- Client used ERA report as evidence of program impact resulting in additional funding.
- Shared project evaluation methods and findings with stakeholders, including advisory boards, funders, program staff, and participants, enabling them to make important program decisions.
- Consulted with youth information technology (IT) program staff to create winning grant proposal including outcomes-based evaluation plan.
- Created widely distributed, research-based, user-friendly, promising practices guide used to engage girls in the IT field.
- Frequent national conference presentations, including American Evaluation Association and American Educational Research Association, focusing on disseminating innovative practices.
