§1397n–4 Evaluations

Summary

Require the federal agency in charge to make a written deal with any State or local government awarded a social impact partnership project to pay for all or part of an independent evaluation. The evaluator must be independent and have strong experience doing rigorous program studies, including randomized trials when available. The evaluation must use random assignment or other strong, evidence-based methods certified by the Federal Interagency Council on Social Impact Partnerships. The Secretary may give these powers and needed funds to another federal agency. No more than 15 percent of the money for these projects can be used for evaluations. The independent evaluator must send a written progress report no later than 2 years after project approval and twice a year after that until the project ends. The evaluator must also submit a report before each scheduled outcome payment showing the evaluation results, what helped or hurt the outcome, the challenges faced, and ideas to improve future efforts. Within 30 days of getting those reports, the Federal Interagency Council must send them to the Secretary and the relevant House and Senate committees. After the project ends, the evaluator must, within 6 months, give a final written report that evaluates each outcome and says whether the State or local government met its obligations; the Council must also send that final report to the Secretary and the committees within 30 days.