The Collaboration Council firmly believes that decisions about services and systems for our children and families must be based on clear and measurable indicators. The data we collect are used to plan, coordinate, fund and monitor these programs and systems.
For instance, we look at how well an Excel Beyond the Bell program is working using the Weikart Approach (see image above, a Trademark of The David P. Weikart Center for Youth Program Quality). This approach is based on positive youth development research and the desire to provide a safe, supportive and productive environment for our youth. Other tools we use include the Efforts to Outcome database system and the After-School Initiative’s Toolkit for Evaluating Positive Youth Development.
Overall, our programs supported by the Excel Beyond the Bell Collaborative focus on ensuring the well-being of program participants and measuring whether or not the program is making an impact.