From: JackDogood@coolafterschool.org
To: PennyPerfectProjectOfficer@city.springfield.gov
Date: 2 weeks after award
Subject: Evaluation?

Dear Penny:

Just a quick question. We're meeting with our evaluator to go over Cool After School and I don't want to look foolish. What happens when we have to decide what type of evaluation to do? I've heard of different types--"process, "outcome, "implementation, "efficiency, "formative, "summative, "effort, "impact, "good, "bad, "ugly"--the list goes on and on. I don't want to waste time or money doing the wrong kind of evaluation. What do I tell our evaluator?

Confused, Jack

From: PennyPerfectProjectOfficer@city.springfield.gov
To: JackDogood@coolafterschool.org
Date: Later that day
Subject: Evaluation?

Dear Jack:

I think I can help you. Many of those terms are the same, just used interchangeably by different agencies, researchers, and academic institutions. First of all, we want "good" evaluations, never bad or ugly! I've attached a file with some information. You can hop on the Web or talk to your evaluator for more details.

Well, gotta run. Good luck at your meeting with your evaluator. Do let me know if you have more questions.

Perfectly yours, Penny