College of Education and Human Development

Center for Applied Research and Educational Improvement

Insights. Actions. Improvement.

Program Evaluation

Gathering and translating data into actionable recommendations for educators, higher ed leaders, nonprofit and for-profit organizations, and community partners. 

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Program Evaluation

CAREI’s program evaluation team partners with schools, districts, higher education institutions, nonprofits, and government agencies to deliver customized, evidence-informed evaluations that drive meaningful change. Our collaborative and relational approach ensures that evaluations are responsive to your evolving goals while fostering innovation and continuous improvement. Whether assessing PreK-12 initiatives, STEM programs, teacher workforce strategies, or community impact efforts, we provide timely insights that enhance decision-making and maximize impact.

    CAREI's approach to evaluation

    What sets us apart is how we bring the right people together, staying flexible and focused on what matters most to you. Our evaluation approach is:

    • Customized to meet your unique needs
    • Collaborative, fostering a team-oriented approach
    • Relational, focusing on building strong, meaningful connections
    • Responsive to your evolving goals
    • Informed by evidence and research, ensuring credibility
    • Innovative, pushing the boundaries of traditional methods
    • Timely, delivering insights when you need them most
    • Impactful, creating real change and value
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    Areas of expertise
    • PreK-12, undergraduate, and graduate education
    • Culturally responsive practices
    • Teacher recruitment, retention, and diversification
    • School and district redesign and innovation
    • Mental health and wellness initiatives
    • Social and emotional learning (SEL)
    • Local, state, and federal grant evaluation
    • Continuous improvement
    • Science education and STEM programs
    • Community development and social impact
    • Nonprofit program evaluation
    • Teaming and organizational dynamics
    Group of young people with text books
    Program evaluation services

    Are you at a crossroads in your organization and trying to determine the next step? Are you curious about how your program participants are experiencing a program or initiative? Are you interested in demonstrating your impact to external audiences? Our evaluation supports can empower your team to:

    • Collect and organize your data so that it is relevant to you and your partners 
    • Transform qualitative and quantitative data into actionable insights to strengthen your programs 
    • Develop recommendations to enhance your mission and drive improvement 
    • Identify best practices for communicating with external audiences using data 
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    What problem can we help you solve?

    Examples of services offered

      Custom surveys

      Get the insights you need

      We specialize in designing custom surveys tailored to gather actionable data. From selecting the right question types to optimizing response rates, we ensure every survey provides the critical information needed to support data-driven decisions and program improvement.

      A survey with various boxes checked and a pen
      Focus groups

      Reveal patterns and dynamics

      We facilitate dynamic focus groups that bring diverse voices together to discuss key issues. Through these rich exchanges, we capture qualitative feedback that illuminates underlying challenges and opportunities, helping organizations refine strategies and drive change.

      A group of people sitting in a circle on chairs
      Interviews

      Reveal key perspectives

      We use person-centered interviews to gather detailed feedback from individuals, providing an in-depth exploration of specific topics. These conversations offer nuanced understanding that helps our partners assess impact, discover new opportunities, and improve programs.

      One instructor discussing information with a person at a table
      Grant proposal and evaluation support

      Prepare rigorous and compelling proposals

      We partner with organizations to develop grant proposals and conduct evaluations for federal and state-funded projects. Our team collaborates with universities, nonprofits, school districts, and businesses to ensure your projects are thoroughly evaluated and deliver impactful results.

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      Case studies

      Explore real-world insights

      We dig deeper to gather a richer understanding of real-life experiences of how programs or initiatives are taking shape. By analyzing successes, challenges, and lessons learned, we help organizations gain practical insights that inform strategic decisions and enhance program effectiveness.

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      Logic models/theories of change

      Map out your path to success

      We work with partners to create Logic Models and Theories of Change that visually depict how your program works to achieve your outcomes. These tools ensure a more effective, evidence-driven approach to implementation and evaluation.

      Four people at a clear whiteboard evaluating logic models
      Literature reviews

      Help our partners know the research

      We synthesize relevant research, identify key trends, and uncover best practices. This helps our partners make informed decisions, enhance program strategies, and strengthen evaluations by grounding them in proven evidence and insights.

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      Data analysis

      Turn data into actionable insights

      Want to know if your efforts are making an impact? We use quantitative analysis to identify trends and measure effectiveness, helping you make data-driven decisions. We also dive into qualitative data to uncover insights from people’s experiences, revealing what’s working and what needs improvement. With complex data, we make sense of it all, presenting clear, actionable findings in accessible ways.

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      Evaluation capacity building

      Grow your skills - at your pace, your way

      ​We help you build systems, tools and processes needed to conduct ‘in-house’ evaluations. From designing data collection methods and creating custom surveys to developing analysis frameworks and reporting templates, we work with you to establish a solid foundation that empowers data-informed decisions and continuous program improvement.

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      Request info and services

       

      Meet our experts

      Kim Gulbrandson Kim Gulbrandson

      • Associate Director of Effective Practices and Evaluation
      • 612-625-1209
      • kgulbra@umn.edu

      Kim Gulbrandson, Ph.D., is the Associate Director of Effective Practices and Evaluation at CAREI. Her role spans the Literacy, MTSS and Research Cores, and she supports evaluation endeavors.

      Sara Kemper Sara Kemper

      Sara Kemper, Ph.D., is a former 5th grade teacher who is passionate about reimagining schools to foster high-quality and equitable learning environments.

      Sara Kemper

      Josh Royes Josh Royes

      Josh Royes’ background includes more than 8 years of professional experience working as a statistician, data scientist, and organizational consultant.

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      The CAREI team is brilliant to work with. Their researchers’ breadth of experience and thoughtfulness allows them to seamlessly integrate into any project and guide the translation of ideas into action. The mixed-methods approach developed by CAREI was perfectly suited to the task, and their analysis was insightful and immediately relevant to policymaking needs.
      —Jacob (Coby) Oertel, University of Minnesota Center for Race, Indegeneity, Disability, Gender, and Sexuality Studies
      CAREI has been a thoughtful and flexible partner throughout our ongoing work together. Their team has demonstrated a strong commitment to collaboration, ensuring our input and organizational goals guide each step of the evaluation process. From developing foundational tools like the logic model and curriculum content map to co-creating a Theory of Change, CAREI has consistently aligned their approach with our mission to create inclusive, meaningful employment opportunities for individuals with disabilities.
      —Jeanne Eglinton, Vice President of Employment Services, Minnesota Diversified Industries
      For nearly four years, I have been partnering with the CAREI team on an ongoing project within my district. Their collaborative approach to innovative problem-solving with schools is both supportive and deeply rooted in research-based practices. CAREI prioritizes capturing diverse perspectives and amplifying student and family voices, ensuring that solutions are not only data-driven but also equitable, practical, and sustainable. Through this partnership, we are fostering meaningful improvements in student outcomes and school communities.
      —Theresa Wallace, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District
      Working with the CAREI team has been a fantastic experience! We chose CAREI for our research and evaluation needs because they came highly recommended and are widely regarded for their expertise. We’ve truly appreciated their attention to detail, keeping our project on track, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Their thoughtful, human-centered approach has brought real depth to our evaluation, and we’re grateful for their partnership every step of the way.
      —Rachel Holmes, Director of Advocacy & Engagement, The Food Group
      The CAREI team has an amazing ability to merge astute technical expertise with a deeply human-centered lens. In our projects together over the years, CAREI has brought expertise with surveys, assessments, qualitative interviewing, and statistical analysis. At the same time, they've led with listening and humility—consistently mindful of the perspectives of and implications for students, families, and educators.
      —Lars Esdal, Executive Director of Education Evolving
      For nearly four years, I have been partnering with the CAREI team on an ongoing project within my district. Their collaborative approach to innovative problem-solving with schools is both supportive and deeply rooted in research-based practices. CAREI prioritizes capturing diverse perspectives and amplifying student and family voices, ensuring that solutions are not only data-driven but also equitable, practical, and sustainable. Through this partnership, we are fostering meaningful improvements in student outcomes and school communities.
      —Theresa Wallace, Northeast Metro 916 Intermediate School District
      Working with the CAREI team has been a fantastic experience! We chose CAREI for our research and evaluation needs because they came highly recommended and are widely regarded for their expertise. We’ve truly appreciated their attention to detail, keeping our project on track, and ensuring everything runs smoothly. Their thoughtful, human-centered approach has brought real depth to our evaluation, and we’re grateful for their partnership every step of the way.
      —Rachel Holmes, Director of Advocacy & Engagement, The Food Group

      Frequently asked questions

        What is evaluation?

        Evaluation is a systematic, question-driven process that helps you understand what’s working, what’s not, and what to do next. It’s about asking the right questions, gathering meaningful information, and using it to make smarter, more informed decisions. While it can measure impact, it’s not just about proving—it’s about learning, improving, and moving forward with clarity and purpose. 

        How do you customize your program evaluation approach for my needs?

        We first understand your program's goals, challenges, and desired outcomes. Then, we develop a tailored plan that outlines the key questions you hope to answer and how we'll answer them, using focus groups, surveys, interviews or other appropriate methodologies. This flexible approach ensures we meet your specific needs and provide actionable insights—all in alignment with your timeline and budget. 

        What types of organizations do you work with?

        CAREI's program evaluation team has collaborated with many types of organizations—big and small—including schools, districts, universities, nonprofits, businesses, and community groups. We work closely with business leaders, executive directors, educators, administrators, and other leaders to gather and translate data into actions that support strategic growth and continuous improvement.  

        What expertise does your evaluation team have?

        Our team of thoughtful and responsive evaluation professionals brings decades of relevant experience to evaluation projects. As former teachers, administrators, coaches, analysts, nonprofit board members, marketing specialists, and small business owners, we know what it's like to work in dynamic, results-oriented organizations. We do everything from conducting needs assessments and assessing program impact to developing your organization's internal capacity to ask and answer critical questions about your work. We frequently leverage culturally-responsive, participatory, and mixed-methods approaches to evaluation. Learn more about our specific areas of expertise here.

        How much do evaluation services cost?

        It depends! Costs vary based on the scope and complexity of the project. Our team will work closely with you to understand your needs and develop a plan that aligns with your goals and budget. We strive to find solutions that deliver value while working within budget constraints, and may suggest a phased approach to services when a full-scale evaluation isn't feasible.