Musings on Science Program Evaluation in an Era of Educational Accountability

Abstract

ConclusionEvaluators of science programs in school settings need to be aware of the much larger accountability context within which school science is situated. Any evaluations of science programs in schools must be situated in a manner that speaks to the larger accountability agenda of the district and the state.Evaluators need to be seen as providing value to the educational system in terms of the skill sets,tools and techniques,and understandings they bring to school science.School personnel and policy makers,working in concert with experienced evaluators,can derive many useful insights into science teaching practices and student learning that go well beyond insights gained from traditional accountability measures.Evaluators also have a social responsibility to help inform the use and application of accountabil- ity measures as they relate to science education.