Theme 7. Evaluation of Early Childhood Care, Development and Education Programs
This topic is divided into three parts. Part 1 presents general ideas and reflections about evaluation. Part 2 deals with Indicators and Situation Analyses. Part 3 presents evaluations of specific ECCD programs. The reader will find that, in addition to discussing indicators, methods and evaluations focused on impact, considerable attention is given to the evaluation process viewed as a process of learning by those who carry it out. Emphasis is placed on evaluation adjusted to context and culture.
7.1 Reflections about evaluation
Published Discussion Paper
(con J. Evans y E. Ilfeld) “La Evaluación en Programas de Desarrollo Infantil Temprano.” La Haya: Fundación Bernard van Leer, Cuaderno 29. Julio 2002. 22 pp.
Unpublished Discussion Paper
“Thoughts on Measuring and Improving Quality in Early Childhood Environments. ” Prepared for discussion at a meeting on “Measuring and Improving Quality in Early Childhood Environments.” September 10-12, 2014. Leiden, the Netherlands. Unpublished discussion paper.
7.2 ECCD Indicators and Situation Analyses
Published paper
“In Search of Early Childhood Indicators.” The Coordinators’ Notebook, No. 25 (2001), pp. 1-31.
Discussion documents
“Incorporating Early Childhood Development into Situation Analyses.” Prepared for presentation at “A Regional Workshop on Programming for Education and Early Childhood Development”. Cartagena, Colombia, February 1991. Unpublished paper.
“Some Thoughts on ECCD Indicators.” Notes Prepared for a Meeting of the Consultative Group on Early Childhood Care and Development, Jordan, September 16-20, 2002.
“Educación Inicial y Preescolar – En Búsqueda de Indicadores”. Un trabajo preparado para presentación en “El Segundo Foro sobre Educación Inicial y Preescolar”. Monterrey, México, Mayo, 2002, 19 pp.
“Indicadores de Equidad – Proyecto de Indicadores de Bienestar para Niños y Niñas Menores de Seis Anos,” México, Distrito Federal, agosto 2003. Trabajo no publicado. Hacia una Cultura Democrático (ACUDE). 7 pp.
“Aprendizajes y consideraciones generales para la aplicación de sistemas de evaluación del desarrollo integral de niños y niñas en la primera infancia.” Una presentación preparada para: II Foro del MERCOSUR sobre Políticas de atención a la primera infancia, “Evaluación del desarrollo integral y de la calidad de los servicios en las políticas de atención a la primera infancia” 2 de diciembre 2009, Asunción, Paraguay. 21 pp.
“Reflexiones sobre el proceso de la creación y uso de indicadores de desarrollo y bienestar infantil.” Un trabajo preparado por presentar en el Seminario Internacional “Modelos e indicadores de desarrollo y bienestar infantil,” México, Distrito Federal, El Centro Interdisciplinario Infancia y Pobreza (CIIP), 7 de abril del 2011. Trabajo no publicado de Hacia una Cultura Democrática, A.C. (ACUDE). 15 pp.
7.3 Evaluations of Specific ECCD Programs
(written with 8 team members). “Pre-School Education as a Catalyst for Community Development: An Evaluation of USAID Project 527-0161.” Final Report presented to the United States Agency for International Development, January 1985. 166 pp. [This report evaluated in detail the PRONOEI preschool program being carried out in the Southern Andes of Peru.]
“Towards an analysis of the Costs and Effectiveness of Community-based Early Education in Kenya, Kilifi District.” 36 pp. A summary report prepared for the Kenya Institute of Education, National Centre for Early Education and the Aga Khan Foundation, February 1992.
Note: See also in Theme 8 which follows evaluations of: 1) the preschool component of the Mexican program “Schools of Quality” (Programa Educativa de Calidad – PEC); and 2) indigenous preschool education in the Yucatán.