DEPARTMENT: Pre-K 4 SA
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Kathy Bruck, CEO
SUBJECT:
Status of independent evaluation by Edvance Research, Inc.
SUMMARY:
Staff briefing on the independent evaluation for the 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 school years as conducted by Edvance Research, Inc. in conjunction with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University to include contract deliverables and expenditures [Kathy Bruck, Pre-K 4 SA CEO]
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
In 2013 the City of San Antonio released a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Program Assessment Consultant to conduct a longitudinal study to determine the effectiveness of Pre-K 4 SA. The Board approved a contract with Edvance Research, Inc. in partnership with the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University for five years with one, three-year renewal option for a potential total contract length of eight years for a total of $857,737 for the initial five year period.
On December 3, 2013 the Board approved the Edvance year 1 work plan for the independent evaluation. Edvance provided a mid-year report on March 4, 2014, a study overview on April 1, 2014, a monthly update on May 6, 2014 which included a summary of major activities for the alignment study and program evaluation, as well as a study schedule, budget, and upcoming studies.
On August 5, 2014, the Board approved for Edvance to submit a federal grant proposal in relation to their work with Pre-K 4 SA and with the purpose of determining the effectiveness of Pre-K 4 SA intervention among four-year-old education development and augmenting the current study of Pre-K 4 SA.
On September 9, 2014, Edvance provided the year 1 evaluation report for Pre-K 4 SA. This included a demographic profile of the children served in Pre-K during program year 1; family engagement, event updates, and results; a report of overall teacher-reported classroom practices and teacher-child interaction quality in classrooms; and the results from the GOLD assessment administered to children by Pre-K 4 SA teachers during the year. Interpretations and limitations were included.
On October 7, 2014 Board meeting, Edvance provided the Board with the year 2 work plan which was approved on November 4, 2014. On December 2, 2014 the Board approved to amend the current contract with Edvance to include Pre-K 4 SA Research Review Board documentation and processes to provide the program with a systematic process for receiving and processing research requests to protect confidentiality of children. The amendment included an increase of classroom observations to gather additional information for the fidelity of implementation evaluation and descriptive information about classrooms. The final amendment included professional development activities to provide more information about the Pre-K 4 SA professional development efforts externally and internally and track the successes throughout San Antonio. These amendments amounted to a total of $76,004.
ISSUE:
This item will provide an executive summary of the various actions that Edvance has accomplished throughout the first two years of the independent evaluation and will include a review of contract deliverables and expenditures.