Example From Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) works cooperatively with government, business, and citizens to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay.  CBF seeks to reduce pollution, restore habitat and replenish fish stocks, and educate and engage constituents to take action for the Bay.

The Evaluation:
CBF underwent a comprehensive external evaluation of their entire education program.  This holistic evaluation allowed them to examine the scope of twenty-five years of programming, specify what actions to measure, and determine if desired accomplishments occurred.  Results of the evaluation allowed CBF to match their expected outcomes with program design, compare specific components of their overall program, and determine what design changes could increase program effectiveness.
Improvements Made:
Results revealed that many CBF programs were not working in a cumulative fashion:
-CBF-trained teachers did not necessarily bring their students on field trips
-Teachers bringing students on field trips were not always involved in restoration projects
-There was a low correlation between restoration and other program components
The evaluation recommended that CBF programs work synergistically, so they developed a training program, Chesapeake Classrooms, requiring teachers to participate in all aspects of CBF offerings.  Recruitment shifted to focus on teachers willing to make this more involved commitment.  Furthermore, CBF reduced their resource investment in restoration, and increased their investment in teacher training and the larger programming package.

Source: Don Baugh, Vice President for Education, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Example From Chesapeake Bay Foundation

The Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) works cooperatively with government, business, and citizens to protect and restore Chesapeake Bay.  CBF seeks to reduce pollution, restore habitat and replenish fish stocks, and educate and engage constituents to take action for the Bay.

The Evaluation:
CBF underwent a comprehensive external evaluation of their entire education program.  This holistic evaluation allowed them to examine the scope of twenty-five years of programming, specify what actions to measure, and determine if desired accomplishments occurred.  Results of the evaluation allowed CBF to match their expected outcomes with program design, compare specific components of their overall program, and determine what design changes could increase program effectiveness.
Improvements Made:
Results revealed that many CBF programs were not working in a cumulative fashion:

• CBF-trained teachers did not necessarily bring their students on field trips

• Teachers bringing students on field trips were not always involved in restoration projects
• There was a low correlation between restoration and other program components

The evaluation recommended that CBF programs work synergistically, so they developed a training program, Chesapeake Classrooms, requiring teachers to participate in all aspects of CBF offerings.  Recruitment shifted to focus on teachers willing to make this more involved commitment.  Furthermore, CBF reduced their resource investment in restoration, and increased their investment in teacher training and the larger programming package.

Source: Don Baugh, Vice President for Education, Chesapeake Bay Foundation

Chesapeake Bay Foundation