EVEN START STUDY.

SEC. 6201. EVEN START STUDY. (a) Independent Evaluation.—The Secretary shall provide for an independent evaluation of a representative sample of programs under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to determine their effectiveness in providing— (1) services to special populations; (2) adult education services; (3) parent training; (4) home-based programs involving parents and children; (5) coordination with related services programs; and (6) training of related personnel in appropriate skill areas. (b) Criteria.— (1) Evaluations shall be conducted by individuals not directly involved in the administration of the program or project operation under part B of chapter 1 of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965. Such independent evaluators and the program administrators shall jointly develop evaluation criteria which provide for appropriate analysis of the factors under subsection (a). When possible, evaluations shall include comparisons with appropriate control groups. (2) In order to determine a program’s effectiveness in achieving its stated goals, the evaluations shall contain objective measures of such goals and, whenever feasible, shall obtain the specific views of program participants about such programs. (c) Report to Congress and Dissemination.—The Secretary shall prepare and submit to the Congress the results of such evaluations. The evaluations shall be submitted to the National Diffusion Network in the form required for consideration for possible dissemination.