Examples of program evaluation conducted by center staff are listed and described below.  

The Rappahannock Teen Abstinence Program: 

The Rappahannock Teen Abstinence Program (RappTAP) was awarded a Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grant.  Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, this grant program provides funding to organizations to allow them to offer abstinence education programs to area youth.  In January of 2008, RappTAP contracted with The Center for Applied Research to conduct a program evaluation for their CBAE grant.  The evaluation team used a longitudinal, mixed-method evaluation design to assist with program improvement and to assess the impact of the program on area youth.  

Project ASPIRE: 

Halifax County Schools (HCS) was awarded a Community-Based Abstinence Education (CBAE) grant.  Administered by the Department of Health and Human Services, this grant program provides funding to organizations to allow them to offer abstinence education programs to area youth.  HalifaxCommunity College and The Center for Applied Research at CentralPiedmontCommunity College worked together to conduct a comprehensive program evaluation of Project ASPIRE.  The evaluation team used a longitudinal, mixed-method evaluation design to assist with program improvement and to assess the impact of the program on area youth. 

Freedom to Learn Initiative: 

Halifax Community College (HCC) was awarded a grant from the Office of Postsecondary Education Predominantly Black Institutions (PBI) Program.  The PBI program is designed to improve educational outcomes for African-American males at predominantly black institutions of higher education. HCC is using the grant to develop the Freedom to Learn Initiative (FLI), also known as PRIDE.  The goal of the program is to increase student satisfaction, academic success, retention, graduation rates, and college transfer rates.  In evaluating FLI, the evaluation team is following the CIPP model which is a comprehensive system of evaluation that is especially useful for assessing educational programs, youth initiatives, and programs concerned with sustainability.  

The Arts and Science Council: An Assessment of the Independent Schools Initiative: 

In 2002, the Arts and Science Council (ASC) created the Independent Schools Initiative to meet the cultural education needs of independent school students who were not being served by other ASC programs.  In its third year, the ASC contracted with The Center for Applied Research to assess the initiative, evaluate its impact and make recommendations for its future. 

National Science Foundation Northern Essex Community College: 

NorthernEssexCommunity College has received funding from the National Science Foundation to create new science curricula to enable students to work as skilled lab technicians in the region or to transfer to four-year universities to complete degrees in science. The Center for Applied Research is in the process of evaluating various components as the program processes (delivery of course curriculum, recruitment efforts, distribution of needs assessment surveys, etc.), formative evaluation (effectiveness of program-specific strategies and methodologies) and summative (did the program meet its goals and objectives).

Parent Leadership Network (PLN):

The Parent Leadership Network is a program that prepares a network of skilled, confident, parents for authentic participation in the improvement of public education.  The over-arching themes are parent engagement and student achievement. The Center for Applied Research contacted with the PLN to evaluate the program and its outcomes.