2016
Federal Invest in What Works Index
(Out of a possible 100)
Did the agency have a senior staff member(s) with the authority, staff, and budget to evaluate its major programs and inform policy decisions affecting them in FY16?
Did the agency have an evaluation policy, evaluation plan, and research/learning agenda(s) and did it publicly release the findings of all completed evaluations in FY16?
Did the agency invest at least 1% of program funds in evaluations in FY16?(Note: Meeting this criteria requires both Agency and Congressional action.)
Did the agency implement a performance management system with clear and prioritized outcome- focused goals and aligned program objectives and measures, and did it frequently collect, analyze, and use data and evidence to improve outcomes, return on investment, and other dimensions of performance in FY16?
Did the agency collect, analyze, share, and use high-quality administrative and survey data - consistent with strong privacy protections - to improve (or help other entities improve) federal, state, and local programs in FY16?
Did the agency use a common evidence framework, guidelines, or standards to inform its research and funding decisions and did it disseminate and promote the use of evidence-based interventions through a user-friendly tool in FY16?
Did the agency have staff, policies, and processes in place that encouraged innovation to improve the impact of its programs in FY16?
Did the agency use evidence of effectiveness when allocating funds from its 5 largest competitive grant programs in FY16?
* These scores are based on information provided by the 7 federal departments and agencies included in this index. You can find this background information - as well as a description of how RFA developed these scores - at http://results4america.org/policy/invest-in-what-works-indexes/
1) Since MCC only administers competitive grant programs, its total possible score was 20 for Question #8 and 0 for question #9.
2) Since USAID only administers competitive grant programs, its total possible score was 20 for Question #8 and 0 for question #9.
Results for America’s Federal Invest in What Works Index (2016) highlights the extent to which the Administration for Children and Families (within HHS); Corporation for National and Community Service; Millennium Challenge Corporation; U.S. Agency for International Development; U.S. Department of Education; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and U.S. Department of Labor are currently building the infrastructure necessary to be able to use data, evidence and evaluation in budget, policy, and management decisions. It is important to note that:
- Results for America developed the criteria and scoring structure in the attached index in close consultation with more than 75 current and former Federal government of cials and key stakeholders from all across the country.
- The purpose of the attached index is to educate members of the general public as well as public, private, and non-pro t sector leaders on how federal departments and agencies are currently using data, evidence and evaluation to invest taxpayer dollars in what works.
- Results for America gave the federal departments and agencies included in the attached index multiple opportunities to review and comment on the content and presentation of the information included in it. We greatly appreciate their willingness to help us develop this document and their continued commitment to making the federal government as effective and ef cient as possible. Since we recognize that it is very dif cult to distill complex practices, policies, and programs into a single cross-agency scorecard, we exercised our best judgment and relied on the deep expertise of leaders both within and outside of the federal government during the development of the attached index.
- Results for America released four previous versions of this Invest in What Works Index in; June 2013, September 2013, May 2014 and March 2015.
Scoring
The attached index assesses seven federal departments and agencies against 10 data, evidence and evaluation criteria. Each criteria was equally weighted and scored on a scale of 0-10 resulting in a total possible score of 100 points. Federal departments and agencies were given 1-3 points if they have demonstrated an intent to meet the stated criteria; 4-5 points if they have demonstrated some initial internal progress toward meeting the criteria; 6-7 points if they have made some initial public progress toward meeting the criteria; 8-9 points if they have made some meaningful public progress toward meeting the criteria; and 10 points if they have fully and successfully met the criteria.These scores are based on the information and links provided by these seven departments and agencies.