Scholar Practitioners as Catalysts for Change
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Evaluation
is used to create and synthesize information about interventions, to make
judgments and to gauge the desirability of an intervention and the degree of
fit between intended and unintended outcomes (Kirby, 2019). The National
Association for the Education of Young Children (2003) states that early
childhood professional along with other stakeholders have a shared
responsibility to make ethical appropriate, valid and reliable assessment an integral component of all early childhood programs.
As
a scholar-practitioner it is my responsibility to explain program plans,
improve communication among stakeholders, and use feedback to improve program effectiveness.
Families are an important part of the evaluation process. Ensuring that all
families understand the importance of evaluations and the effect on children’s
learning is necessary to prevent obstacles during evaluation implementation. All
groups must be included in decision-making and implementation of the evaluation
to improve program effectiveness.
National Association for the Education of Young
Children. (2003). Early childhood curriculum, assessment, and program
evaluation: Building an effective, accountable system in programs for children
birth through age 8. Retrieved from https://www.naeyc.org/files/naeyc/file/positions/CAPEexpand.pdf
Work
Group for Community Health and Development. (2016f). Chapter 36, Section 3: Understanding
community leadership, evaluators, and funders: What are their interests?
Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/evaluate/evaluation/interests-of-leaders-evaluators-funders/main
Comments
Dr. Watnick
You mention that it is important for families to be included in the process. However, sometimes there are barriers to incorporating families such as schedules, willingness to get involved, language barriers. How would you go about breaking down some of these barriers?
Brittany
Working with a diverse population, I see my greatest barrier as a lack of participation from family stakeholders. Stefanski, A., Valli, L., & Jacobson (2016) define family engagement as goal-directed relationships between staff and families that are ongoing and culturally responsive; family and staff members share responsibility and mutually support what is best for children and families. Involving the family in planning and decision-making is vital to their buy in the process. Minimizing this barrier includes establishing an environment that is culturally and linguistically sensitive to all groups, not just the dominant group (Work group for community health and development, 2016c).
Stefanski, A., Valli, L., & Jacobson, R. (2016). Beyond Involvement and Engagement: The Role of the Family in School-Community Partnerships. School Community Journal, 26(2), 135–160. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=120454451&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2016c). Chapter 27, Section 7: Building culturally competent organizations. Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culturally-competent-organizations/main
Stefanski, A., Valli, L., & Jacobson, R. (2016). Beyond Involvement and Engagement: The Role of the Family in School-Community Partnerships. School Community Journal, 26(2), 135–160. Retrieved from https://search-ebscohost-com.ezp.waldenulibrary.org/login.aspx?direct=true&db=eue&AN=120454451&site=ehost-live&scope=site
Work Group for Community Health and Development. (2016c). Chapter 27, Section 7: Building culturally competent organizations. Community Tool Box. Retrieved from http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/culture/cultural-competence/culturally-competent-organizations/main
I absolutely agree with your statement about the importance of families in the evaluation process. Working mainly in an area that caters to low income families, I have experienced the strength that families have when it comes to the importance of their child’s education. I have noticed a great number of parents attending parent meetings to find different ways to help their child become successful. In order to participate in evaluations, families have to be aware of the process. During parent meetings, we will give parents some ideas on what evaluations are, and how they will be beneficial for their children. They are part of our program and their voice is as important as any other stakeholder is.