Why We Need to Measure Outcomes

Community Adult Learning Programs are all about making a difference in the lives of adult learners. However, it’s one thing to know instinctively that our programs are having an impact, but it’s another thing to “prove it”. And proving it matters as competition for finite resources (be it people or money) increases. Our funders have shifted to outcomes-based measurement, evaluation and reporting - wanting us to “show” that our programs are achieving the results they were set up to achieve. Being able to show the difference we are making also matters to all of us as adult learning practitioners, as we connect with community partners and most importantly, with adult learners.

Value to CALPs

• Helps to prove the value of our work in the community – to funders, your board, and to individual learners.
• Creates a feedback loop your CALP can use to evaluate and improve on current & future programming.
• Outcomes and Indicators tell us whether programming is contributing to the Community Adult Learning Program's vision, and to the vision and mission of our own organizations.
• Streamlines the data collection process by making sure that only the essential data is being collected.

Value to Learners

• Programming can be adapted to fit learners’ needs, learning style and daily life while still focusing on a common set of outcomes.
• Includes learners in the planning and program development process by giving them a voice and sharing their stories.

Value to Funders

• Provides quantifiable evidence that dollars spent are making a difference.
• Measures changes and improvements over time, by establishing baselines and allowing funders to see where they achieve the greatest impact.