How can we measure the quality of our program?

How well is your ELO serving the children in your community? Answering this question will provide valuable information for staff, funders, community leaders, the media, and others who are interested in your progress.

Some ideas on determining the quality of your program are as follows:

• Ask children and parents involved in the program to answer questions about the services and programs provided by your ELO
• Contact a local university or research organization for help in evaluating your program
• Be sure to keep track internally of anything that happens that was unexpected and positive

McRel, a nonprofit organization that improves education through applied research and development, offers a booklet, "Evaluating for Success: An Evaluation Guide for Districts and Schools."

LA's BEST, a leader in ELO development, provides the results of an outside evaluation conducted by UCLA.