Improving Established Statewide Programs

Abstract

This article describes an approach to evaluation that grew out of the need to develop a system that would first describe and then assess statewide services delivered to preschool children. Based on evaluability assessment, the component theory conceptualizes the unit of analysis for evaluation as the component and not the entire program. It is argued that this approach increases the generalizability and utilization of evaluations as well as enhancing the ability to evaluate many existing programs at the state level. An application of the approach to evaluating preschool intervention programs is discussed.