9. Evaluation Leadership & Governance

A 2019 Alabama law created the Alabama Commission on the Evaluation of Services, which catalogs and evaluates public services statewide. The commission, composed of state legislators and Governor’s Office staff, determines the effectiveness of public services in order to make informed funding recommendations for state leaders.

The Colorado Governor’s Office of State Planning and Budgeting and its director lead the use of data and evidence in the state’s budget process through the review of agency budget requests based upon their level of evidence and evaluation to inform priority policy and budget decisions. This office engages with the University of Denver’s Colorado Evaluation and Action Lab as well the Colorado Evidence-Based Policy Collaborative composed of state agency representatives and community organizations. The office also administers a $500,000 annual fund for program evaluation and implementation grants, which provides competitive funding for agencies to undertake evaluation and implementation science projects.

Issue Areas: Child Welfare, Criminal Justice, Economic Mobility, Education, Health, Workforce

The Connecticut State Department of Education’s Office of Performance is led by a Chief Performance Officer, who is responsible for using data, evaluation, research, and technology to improve student outcomes. The Chief Performance Officer maintains the department’s data collection, assessment, information technology, reporting, research, and accountability activities, including the management of its performance dashboard, EdSight. The office also hosts an annual Performance Matters Forum, which focuses on performance, continuous improvement, research, and evaluation topics.

Issue Areas: Education

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education’s Office of Planning and Research is led by a Chief Strategy and Research Officer who is responsible for improving the use of data and research findings to influence policy and program decision-making. The Chief Strategy and Research Officer monitors progress toward the department’s goal of preparing all students for success after high school, along with the other five priorities detailed in the department’s strategic plan. The position oversees all activities related to research, performance management, research partnerships, and strategic planning.

Issue Areas: Education

Minnesota Management and Budget has a Chief Data and Evaluation Officer with the authority, staff, and budget to conduct experimental and quasi-experimental impact evaluations, as well as advise the Governor and legislature on the evidence of effectiveness of publicly funded services.

Issue Areas: Child Welfare, COVID-19, Criminal Justice, Economic Mobility, Education, Health, Workforce

The Mississippi Department of Education’s Office of Research and Development is led by a director charged with using data and research to improve student outcomes across the state. Guided by a Dynamic Research Framework, the Office of Research and Development uses a longitudinal data system to evaluate the effectiveness of programs in areas such as early learning.

Issue Areas: Education

North Carolina is deepening efforts and investment in evaluation leadership and governance. In 2021, the North Carolina Office of Strategic Partnerships (OSP) established the state’s first Evidence Advisor position to maximize investment in evidence-based policies and programs. OSP is collaborating with state agencies to identify programs that, based on available evidence, could be scaled or adjusted, and to identify and prioritize opportunities to grow the evidence base by initiating randomized controlled trials of promising programs or policies.

The Director of the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Research, Evaluation and Advanced Analytics enables educational leaders across the state to recognize, gather, analyze, evaluate, and leverage data in problem-solving to improve student outcomes. Initiatives such as Empowered by Evidence and Ohio’s Evidence-Based Clearinghouse are designed to foster “a culture of continuous learning… [and to] create the framework and processes needed for actionable research.” The department has partnered with the Ohio Education Research Center to share education data across the state.

Issue Areas: Education, Health, Workforce

Washington has a robust infrastructure for program evaluation and reporting. While most states have external auditing functions, it is notable that Washington has several internal facing entities: The Joint Legislative Audit and Review Committee (legislative branch), State Auditor’s Office Performance Audit section (separately elected), and the Washington State Institute for Public Policy (nonpartisan research on behalf of the legislature) provide evaluation services. The Washington State Department of Social and Health Services’ Research and Data Analysis division conducts evaluations for state partner agencies using a unique integrated client database. The Department of Children, Youth and Families Office of Innovation, Alignment, and Accountability, the Office of Financial Management’s Washington Data and Research Office, and the Education Research and Data Center, are other examples in addition to DSHS-RDA where executive branch agencies are staffed with substantial evaluation and analytic staff.

Issue Areas: Child Welfare, Criminal Justice, Economic Mobility, Education, Health