Culturally Responsive Participatory Evaluation and Parent Leadership Initiatives: Evaluation That Transforms

• In Event: 18.059 - MTCC Roundtable Session Three
  In Roundtable Session: 18.059-12 - New Directions in Participatory Action Research and Evaluation

Abstract

Powerful parent leaders improve educational opportunities in low-income communities and communities of color, and nationwide, parent leaders are rising. Yet, many PLIs have experienced challenges with evaluation. The purpose of this paper is to make the case for a culturally responsive participatory evaluation (CRPE) approach to evaluating PLIs. We discuss how both PLIs and CRPE share similar values and priorities and we debunk several myths about participatory evaluation using empirical evidence from our experience with a process to build the capacity of seven PLIs to engage in participatory evaluation. Our findings have implications for how leadership and organizing initiatives should be evaluated in ways that are congruent with their core beliefs and values.

Authors

• Joanna D. Geller, New York University

• Wendy Y. Perez, Annenberg Institute for School Reform