As budgets shrink, districts need to know which programs, strategies, and efforts are raising achievement and which are not. Determining what is working, for which students, and at what cost, is easier said than done. While data is not always readily available, measurement is possible and worth the effort. With good information in hand, districts can proactively allocate scarce resources to activities that best meet the needs of students.
Our Approach
DMGroup’s rigorous approach to evaluating programs helps you understand the academic impact of your programs and compare to your district’s goals using our Academic Return on Investment (A-ROI) methodology. A-ROI is both a mindset and a set of specific, highly-structured practices that bring greater precision to decisions and build broader buy-in by knowing what works, for which students, at what fully-loaded program cost. Armed with this information, districts are well-equipped to fine tune their efforts and shift resources to what works best, ultimately raising achievement and reducing costs.
- Analyze what does the most good and for whom, with segmented analysis based on granular review of students with common educational needs
- Quantify and measure fully-loaded program costs, which include direct program costs as well as the cost of staff time and other costs of delivering services
- Identify if programs are effective for some segments of students but not others so that you can strategically target services to align with students’ specific needs
- Clarify which programs are an ineffective use of funds and make plans to redirect resources to more effective initiatives
