The Literacy Program Evaluation Tool

The Literacy Program Evaluation Tool is a set of guidelines to help building-level personnel evaluate their school's literacy program. The tool outlines a step-by-step process for examining students' reading progress and teachers' instructional strategies in order to improve reading and writing outcomes. The steps in this process include:

1. Establishing a literacy committee
2. Building a knowledge base
3. Conducting a needs assessment
4. Formulating questions to focus the monitoring
5. Collecting information
6. Organizing and analyzing information
7. Taking action

The tool also includes sample worksheets and checklists that teachers and administrators can use as they carry out the evaluation process.

The Literacy Program Evaluation Tool is based on Monitoring the School Literacy Program (2000), a critical issue paper prepared by the North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL). NCREL is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to helping schools—and the students they serve—reach their full potential. NCREL is one of ten regional educational laboratories. We provide research-based resources and assistance to educators, policymakers, and communities in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Be sure to visit NCREL's Literacy Research and Best Practices Web site.