Planning and Evaluating Integrated School-Based Services

Summary

This paper reviews some of the challenges to evaluation presented by integrated school-based services, and describes field-based evaluation approaches designed to yield valid and useful information about such programs. In place of the positivistic research paradigm, a multistage evaluation approach is called for that includes qualitative and quantitative and process and outcome evaluations. This approach is characterized by close collaboration between evaluators and program personnel that makes evaluation an integral part of program planning and operation.