Guidelines for Legislative Language for

State Program Evaluation

Quick Summary

Evaluation is a complex activity and no simple recipe is possible. Acknowledging that complexity, these guidelines are written as a set of questions that should be considered when drafting legislative language calling for evaluation of state-sponsored programs.
  1. Is evaluation of this program an important investment of state resources? Setting priorities for evaluation is a key role for the Legislature. It is better to focus scarce attention and resources on a limited number of high priority projects than to try to evaluate everything.
  2. What questions does the Legislature need to have answered about this program? A clearly framed set of questions that identify what the Legislature wants to know helps greatly to focus evaluation efforts.
  3. What will it take to answer the Legislature’s questions – and can adequate resources be provided? Evaluation that can significantly impact policy takes planning, expertise, time, and resources.
  4. What will it take to ensure credible evaluation findings? Evaluators must be independent from the program under review in order for findings to be credible with the Legislature in most cases.
  5. Who should be involved in this evaluation -- from inception to results? Representatives from all key stakeholder groups -- especially the Legislature -- should participate in evaluation conceptualization and planning.
  6. When should evaluation findings be expected from this program? Useful evaluation findings cannot be expected before programs have time to get organized, deliver services, and generate results. These steps take several years for state programs.
  7. What is the role of state agencies in this evaluation? State agencies can play a key role in overseeing third-party and locally conducted evaluation projects and in linking evaluators with policy makers.
  8. What information needs to be available for statewide evaluation? Standardizing key data elements from local programs with similar goals can provide a valuable resource for policy study but requires legislative mandate and state leadership.