Every evaluation effort should serve to improve program quality, examine benefits of service, or fulfill legislative requirements.

All grantees and subgrantees are required to perform internal evaluations which are ongoing efforts to assess performance and improve quality. Grantees and subgrantees may, but are not required to, arrange for independent evaluations which are assessments of program effectiveness by individuals who are not directly involved in the administration of the program. The cost of independent evaluations is allowable.

Programs are required to: (a) Continuously assess management effectiveness, the quality of services provided, and the satisfaction of both participants and service recipients. Internal evaluations should seek frequent feedback and provide for quick correction of weakness. The Corporation encourages programs to use internal evaluation methods, such as community advisory councils, participant advisory councils, peer reviews, quality control inspections, and service recipient and participant surveys.

(b) Track progress toward pre-established objectives. Objectives must be established by programs and approved by the Corporation. Programs must submit to the Corporation (or the Corporation grantee as applicable) periodic performance reports.

(c) Collect and submit to the Corporation (through the Corporation grantee as applicable) the following data: (1) The total number of participants in each program and basic demographic characteristics of the participants including sex, age, economic background, education level, ethnic group, disability classification, and geographic region.

(2) Other information as required by the Corporation.

(d) Cooperate fully with all Corporation evaluation activities.

A Corporation grantee that makes subgrants must do the following: (a) Ensure that subgrantees comply with the requirements of § 2516.840.

(b) Track program performance in terms of progress toward pre-established objectives; ensure that corrective action is taken when necessary; and submit to the Corporation periodic performance reports.

(c) Collect from programs and submit to the Corporation the descriptive information required in § 2516.820(c)(1).

(d) Cooperate fully with all Corporation evaluation activities.

The Corporation will evaluate programs based on the following: (a) The extent to which the program meets the objectives established and agreed to by the grantee and the Corporation before the grant award.

(b) The extent to which the program is cost-effective.

(c) Other criteria as determined and published by the Corporation.

(a) The Corporation will conduct independent evaluations. These evaluations will consider the opinions of participants and members of the communities where services are delivered. If appropriate, these evaluations will compare participants with individuals who have not participated in service-learning programs. These evaluations will—

(1) Study the extent to which service-learning programs as a whole affect the involved communities;

(2) Determine the extent to which service-learning programs as a whole increase academic learning of participants, enhance civic education, and foster continued community involvement; and

(3) Determine the effectiveness of different program models.

(b) The Corporation will also determine by June 30, 1995, whether outcomes of service-learning programs are defined and measured appropriately, and the implications of the results from such a study for authorized funding levels.

(a) Yes. The Corporation will maintain the confidentiality of information regarding individual participants that is acquired for the purpose of the evaluations described in § 2516.840. The Corporation will disclose individual participant information only with the prior written consent of the participant. However, the Corporation may disclose aggregate participant information.

(b) Grantees and subgrantees under this part must comply with the provisions of paragraph (a) of this section.