Program Evaluation
Program evaluation is strategy or tool designed to collect information about a program’s activities and results to learn how a program is functioning, improve its design and communicate its impact.
In early years programming, program evaluation often occurs at the child level and at a program level. At a child level, evaluation activities often assess or monitor a child’s development compared to norms (typically Western, mainstream), or frequent observations of children to determine their strengths, challenges and interests. At a program level, evaluation activities often assess the quality of an ECE space, the curriculum, participation levels in programming, parent/caregiver satisfaction.
While there are evaluation tools available, most do not take into account cultural differences that influence a child’s early experiences. Ongoing, community-based creation and assessment of evaluation methods is critical for Indigenous communities and early child care professionals to feel empowered to use methods that support them in their goal of improving the lives of young children.
National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
If you are interested in reading more about Indigenous perspectives on program evaluation, take a look at this paper from the National Collaborating Centre for Indigenous Health
Finding Fitting Solutions to Assessment of Indigenous Young Children’s Learning and Development: Do It in a Good Way
Check out this recent publication by Jessica Ball, Professor in the School of Child and Youth Care at the University of Victoria
The Impact database is a custom, program-specific evaluation and case management database created for the Early Years in collaboration with a team of academics and developers at the University of Toronto Factor-Inwentash School of Social Work. The database was launched in October 2020 for use by Early Years staff at partner organizations to maintain participant files, manage caseloads, and gather evaluation data. All program forms and assessments related to Early Years participating parents/caregivers and their children can be entered in the Impact database.
