Beginning in 1999, and in its 7th year during 2005-2006, this project provides services to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction in both external evaluation and general technical assistance in project design and implementation for the 172 schools receiving the 3-year CSR grants in five cohorts. These schools were among the lowest-performing in the state on the annual testing program during the years prior to receiving the grant and receive the grants to adopt and implement an approved whole-school reform model. Further assistance is provided by the evaluators directly to the State Coordinator of CSR in management of the grants program and in planning and implementing the state program for technical assistance and training for the school leaders. The final product each year is an annual report to the state that serves as its report to the federal government and meets the federal requirement for external evaluation.
Drs. Andrew and Hathia Hayes co-direct the evaluation project that has been funded each year for a total for seven years of over $1,593,000. They serve as the primary external evaluators for the state and their work includes scheduled site visits to each school for assessment and assistance in the fall and spring each year. Ongoing communications with school leaders is maintained by telephone and e-mail and in periodic conferences held for planning and training. Other members of the Watson School of Education faculty and two colleagues from England participate in the school site visits each year and in making the summary judgments of the reform initiatives among the schools and of overall findings and interpretations.
The annual reports and the state system of services to the CSR grantees
are recognized by the national CSR leaders as models to be followed by
other states and have been the subject for several presentations to leaders
from other states and for discussions about external evaluation by the
states. This grant ends following the 2005-2006 year as a result of the
elimination of the CSR initiative from the federal budget.