Evaluation of the English Access Microscholarship Program FINAL REPORT December 2007 Prepared for: U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs Office of Policy and Evaluation Evaluation Division 2200 C Street NW Washington, D.C. 20522-0582 [email protected] Prepared by: Aguirre Division of JBS International, Inc. 5515 Security Lane, Suite 800 Rockville, MD 20852 Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY .................................................................................................................................. vi Program Description & History ................................................................................................................. vi Effectiveness of the Access Program ....................................................................................................... vi Evaluation Findings ................................................................................................................................. vii Evaluation Purpose & Goals ..................................................................................................................... ix Evaluation Methodology .......................................................................................................................... ix Overall Evaluation Conclusions ................................................................................................................. x Recommendations ................................................................................................................................... xi 1 INTRODUCTION AND OVERVIEW OF THE EVALUATION ..................................................................... 1 A. Purpose of the Access Program Evaluation and Evaluation Goals ..................................................... 1 B. Goals of the English Access Microscholarship Program ...................................................................... 2 1. Governing Act Goals ..................................................................................................................... 2 2. Access Programmatic Goals ........................................................................................................... 2 3. Access Program Management and Funding Centralization ............................................................ 4 C. Overview of Evaluation Methodology ............................................................................................... 5 1. In-Country Research Organizations ................................................................................................ 6 2. Interviews ....................................................................................................................................... 6 3. Surveys .......................................................................................................................................... 7 4. Focus Groups ................................................................................................................................. 8 5. Site Visits ........................................................................................................................................ 8 6. Classroom Observations ................................................................................................................ 8 7. Length of Protocols ......................................................................................................................... 8 D. Characteristics of Evaluation Participants and Stakeholders .............................................................. 9 1. Participants .................................................................................................................................... 9 2. Peers ............................................................................................................................................ 11 3. Parents of Access Students ........................................................................................................... 13 4. Access Program Teachers ............................................................................................................. 14 5. Access Program Administrators .................................................................................................... 14 6. Access Selection Committees ........................................................................................................ 14 Aguirre Division, JBS International, Inc. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Evaluation Division ii 2 ACCESS PROGRAM DESCRIPTION BY COUNTRY ............................................................................... 16 A. NEA Region Program Summary ....................................................................................................... 16 B. Morocco ........................................................................................................................................... 17 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 17 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 18 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 21 4. Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 22 C. Lebanon ........................................................................................................................................... 24 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 24 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 25 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 27 4. Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 27 D. Oman ............................................................................................................................................... 29 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 29 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 30 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 32 4. Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 33 SCA Region Program Summary ............................................................................................................... 34 E. Bangladesh ..................................................................................................................................... 35 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 35 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 36 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 38 4. Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 39 F. India ................................................................................................................................................. 40 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 40 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 43 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 47 4. Activities ....................................................................................................................................... 49 Pakistan ................................................................................................................................................... 50 1. Program Description .................................................................................................................... 50 Aguirre Division, JBS International, Inc. Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs, Office of Policy and Evaluation, Evaluation Division iii 2. Structure of Program ................................................................................................................... 51 3. Resources ..................................................................................................................................... 54 4. Activities ......................................................................................................................................