What is an experimental design and why would I want to use it to demonstrate our record of effectiveness?
The experimental design is the most rigorous research design because when implemented correctly, you are able to isolate the effect of your program from other potential causes or reasons for the outcome. In the case of the tutoring program, implementing an experimental design would determine whether the tutoring program had exclusively been instrumental in improving the academic performance of those students served by the program. If your research were correctly carried out as evidence of a record of effectiveness, you would receive maximum credit for this element of the RFA.
