State Education Agency Perspective on ECIA Chapter 1 Migrant Education Program Evaluation.

Overview & Synopsis

The evaluation of federal programs such as the migrant education program causes a dilemma for state education agencies. The law places the prime responsibility for establishing, and accounting for, quality programs on state and local education agencies. However, no explicit directive requires that this be done in a uniform manner. A lack of national level data on the services rendered has resulted. This paper discusses the factors which have delayed the formation of an evaluation and reporting system for the Education Consolidation Improvement Act (ECIA) Migrant Education program. The available alternatives for future data collection and reporting are discussed. A national reporting system must balance the identification of data collection limit requirements as identified by law, and the description of the unique migrant education program characteristics. (DWH)