Children's Environments Research Group (CERG)

Participatory Evaluations

Participatory Evaluation of Two After-school Programs in NYC

Jason Schwartzman and Selim Iltus of CERG has been conducting a three-year evaluation of two after-school programs, Hartley House After-School Program in Manhattan's West side and New Settlement Apartments Multicultural after-School Program in the Bronx.

Projects included a series of workshops with the staff of the programs. Workshops were used to develop logic models for each program and generate data collection tools with the participation of program staff. Throughout the project, staff and youth were involved in data collection and analysis.The results are used to make critical program decisions and to ensure that the programs are sufficiently equipped to conduct self-evaluations in the coming years.

Sponsor: Robert Bowne Foundation

Staten Island Children's Museum: P.S. 14, Science Education Program
Evaluation

In conjunction with its "Great Explorers" exhibit, Staten Island Children's museum is implementing a longitudinal science education program in P.S.14 Elementary School at Staten Island. Intensive educational support,curriculum assistance and materials are provided to the school.

After the first year of planning with teachers, the target group of students started to receive program support at grades 3, 4 and 5. The evaluators Selim Iltus and David Kritt have been using teacher interviews, in-class observations, student workshops and parent surveys to determine the effectiveness of the program. Test scores of the students in the target school and compatible schools are also being analyzed.

Sponsor: Howard Hughes Medical Institute