"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 math (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 seven 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.

ERA and Partners Win AEA 2009 Poster Exhibition!
The poster, entitled Changing Horses Mid-Stream: Lessons Learned From Evaluator Transitions During Two Innovative Technology Experiences for Students and Teachers (ITEST) Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Projects was judged for its visual appeal as well as written content. Read more about the poster and award in this exerpt from the American Evaluation Association Newsletter.