Staff outlines growth plan: from nine evaluators to space for 14, more reports and data challenges

Commission staff briefed members on operations and a workplan to expand analytical capacity. Staff said the office currently employs nine evaluators and is negotiating expanded office space that would allow for 14 offices and capacity for five more evaluators. Staff said the majority of the office’s expenditures (about 85–90%) are for salaries and benefits and that, with full staffing, projected spending would be near $1.4 million.

Staff also outlined current evaluations on the docket — including an early childhood pre-K evaluation and work on social worker retention and charter schools — and said the office typically produces two to three reports a year but could expand output with more staff. The briefing emphasized two operational bottlenecks: obtaining high-quality data and negotiating data-sharing agreements or MOUs with agencies, which can delay evaluations for months or longer. Staff suggested the committee could help by using budget or statutory language to incentivize agency cooperation.