K-12 Public Education Evaluations
Active Projects
Denver Public School’s Innovation Schools
Evaluation Dates: July 2010 – 2013
Innovation Schools are those institutions that have applied for and received “innovation status” from Denver Public Schools in accordance with the Colorado Department of Education’s Innovation Schools Guidelines which allows the schools greater school autonomy and flexibility in academic and operational decision-making to improve student outcomes.
Evaluators are examining nineteen innovation or autonomous schools in the Denver Public School system to determine the extent to which innovation status has affected the effectiveness of these schools. Specifically, evaluators are evaluating the impact on student achievement, school culture, and composition of workforce. Evaluation methods utilized for the Innovation Schools project include: Review of existing achievement and school artifact data, surveys of faculty, and interviews with faculty, parents, and school leaders.
Reports:
Progress of Innovation Schools in DPS: Year Two of an Evaluation Study – Full Report
2010 – 2011 Innovation Schools Report – Full Report
2010 – 2011 Innovation Schools Report – Executive Summary
Past Projects
Denver Public Schools Professional Compensation System for Teachers (ProComp)
Evaluation Dates: May 2008 – August 2011
ProComp is the pay for performance system developed collaboratively by Denver Public Schools and the teachers union, Denver Classroom Teachers Association (DCTA). Teachers receive incentives for increased knowledge and skills, satisfactory professional evaluations, and student achievement. There are also market incentives for working in a Hard to Serve school and Hard to Staff positions.
The evaluation of ProComp consisted of a multi-year study of the impact of ProComp on student achievement, recruitment and retention of quality teachers, and implementation of a sustainable, manageable, understandable compensation system. The evaluation of ProComp utilized mixed methods that included quantitative and qualitative analyses of surveys, interviews, and existing data bases including longitudinal demographic and student achievement data.
This was a collaborative project of The Evaluation Center and the Center for Education Policy Analysis.
Final Report:
Executive Summary: Making a Difference in Education Reform, ProComp External Evaluation Report
Final Report: Making a Difference in Education Reform, ProComp External Evaluation Report
Denver Public Schools Parent Engagement Measurement
Evaluation Dates: April 2011 – June 2011
Collected feedback from stakeholders concerning the merit of proposed indicators and actionable suggestions for improvement.
Aurora Lights
Evaluation Dates: 2009 – 2009
Evaluation of Program to support students seeking health careers funded by health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) in the Aurora Public Schools
Learn & Serve Colorado
Evaluation Dates: 2006 – 2008
Study of impact of service learning on achievement (Colorado Department of Education)
Rocky Mountain Math Science Middle School Project (RM-MSMSP)
Evaluation Dates: 2005 – 2008
Data collection for evaluation of teacher professional development (National Science Foundation)
Aurora Public Schools
Evaluation Dates: 2006 – 2006
Data analyses on correlation of physical fitness and academic achievement
Elizabeth Public Schools
Evaluation Dates: 2006 – 2006
Survey of community members and Data analysis
