Does the experimental evaluation have to be in place for the entire grant period? Is one year of a randomized trial sufficient?
One year of a randomized trial is not sufficient. Absolute priority 2 requires applicants to support an evaluation of the implementation of the supplemental literacy intervention during the second, third, and fourth years of the project. We expect that evaluation activities will commence shortly after the grants are awarded. During Budget/Performance Period 1 (October 2009-September 2010), we expect that evaluators will work with IES’ technical assistance provider to refine their evaluation plans and to conduct random assignment of the first cohort of students, which will be eligible to receive the supplemental literacy intervention beginning at the start of the 2010-11 school year. During Budget/Performance Period 2 (October 2010-September 2011), we expect that evaluators will collect and analyze data on implementation and program impacts for the first cohort of randomly assigned students, and to conduct random assignment of a second cohort of students, which will be eligible to recei
