The Master's of Education (M.Ed.) for Experienced Teachers at the School of Education at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill was specifically designed to meet the needs of experienced classroom teachers and to combat the growing attrition rate of North Carolina teachers. This cohort-based, 2-year graduate degree program offers practicing teachers a unique opportunity to study a specific curriculum area and to research topics related to instruction. Teachers enrolled in the program will be able to immediately apply what they are learning in their graduate coursework to their classrooms and bring their experiences and knowledge to their colleagues, schools, and school systems.

EvAP began working with the M.Ed. faculty during the 2001-02 academic year to design and implement an evaluation of this degree program. The evaluation focuses on four central questions:

1) How is this program making a difference for teachers?
2) What is the impact of this program on the School of Education?
3) What are the nature, extent, and usefulness of distance technology in meeting program objectives?
4) How can the program be improved over time?

Emphasis is placed on assessing the program's progress in these central areas within the context of professional growth, logistics and course mechanics, distance education, and instructional resources. EvAP's data collection plan uses multiple instruments, methods, and opportunities, and relies on input from all major program stakeholders.