Measuring Program Implementation and Outcomes

A critical aspect of knowledge building is program evaluation. For the past two years, the Foundation has funded the University of Maryland to conduct an implementation evaluation of the Quality Improvement Network (QIN), an initiative of the District of Columbia’s Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) that’s designed to expand the number of Early Head Start slots in the District by helping current child care providers reach Early Head Start standards.

In addition, the Foundation funds a systems evaluation of the QIN through DC Action for Children, which examines whether the structure of the QIN was implement as planned, is systemic, and has improved connectivity and collaboration across the early care and education system.

In partnership with the W.K. Kellogg Foundation, over an additional three years, we will fund an outcome evaluation to assess the impact of the QIN on participating children, families, providers and DC’s early childhood system.