Evaluation Plan of the Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning, FY1996-FY2000

This evaluation plan, which is updated annually, provides a synthesis of the various evaluation activities of Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning (McREL). During 1999, the fourth year of the Laboratory's contract period with the Office of Educational Research and Improvement, special studies and integrated studies were designed to bridge the fourth and fifth years in order to increase the emphasis on summative or impact evaluation. Needs assessment, formative, and summative evaluations, and quality assurance activities are embedded throughout McREL's 5-year plan of work. Nine studies were planned for the entire 5-year period: (1) evaluation of Laboratory management; (2) evaluation of development and applied research; (3) evaluation of field services; (4) participation in the Nationwide Education Information & Assistance System; (5) evaluation of the Laboratory network program; (6) assistance to the Office of Educational Research and Development; (7) evaluation of specialty area development; (8) evaluation of collaboration; and (9) an integrated Laboratory activity evaluation study. Each of these studies is described, with a description of the specific focuses of component studies that make up the nine major studies. Eleven appendixes contain outlines of some aspects of these component studies. (SLD)