§12639. Evaluation

(a) In general

The Corporation shall provide, through grants or contracts, for the continuing evaluation of programs that receive assistance under the national service laws, including evaluations that measure the impact of such programs, to determine-

(1) the effectiveness of various program models in achieving stated goals and the costs associated with such;

(2) with respect to the programs authorized under division C of this subchapter, the impact of such programs, in each State in which a program is conducted, on the ability of-

(A) the VISTA and National Senior Volunteer Corps programs (established under the Domestic Volunteer Services ¹ Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.));

(B) each regular component of the Armed Forces (as defined in section 101(a)(4) of title 10);

(C) each of the reserve components of the Armed Forces (as described in section 216(a) of title 5); ² and

(D) the Peace Corps (as established by the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.));

to recruit individuals residing in such State to serve in such program; and

(3) the structure and mechanisms for delivery of services for such programs.

(b) Comparisons

The Corporation shall provide for inclusion in the evaluations required under subsection (a) of this section, where appropriate, comparisons of participants in such programs with individuals who have not participated in such programs.

(c) Conducting evaluations

Evaluations of programs under subsection (a) of this section shall be conducted by individuals who are not directly involved in the administration of such program.

(d) Standards

The Corporation shall develop and publish general standards for the evaluation of program effectiveness in achieving the objectives of the national service laws.

(e) Community participation

In evaluating a program receiving assistance under the national service laws, the Corporation shall consider the opinions of participants and members of the communities where services are delivered concerning the strengths and weaknesses of such program.

(f) Comparison of program models

The Corporation shall evaluate and compare the effectiveness of different program models in meeting the program objectives described in subsection (g) of this section including full- and part-time programs, programs involving different types of national service, programs using different recruitment methods, programs offering alternative voucher or post-service benefit options, and programs utilizing individual placements and teams.

(g) Program objectives

The Corporation shall ensure that programs that receive assistance under division C of this subchapter are evaluated to determine their effectiveness in-

(1) recruiting and enrolling diverse participants in such programs, consistent with the requirements of section 12575 ² of this title, based on economic background, race, ethnicity, age, marital status, education levels, and disability;

(2) promoting the educational achievement of each participant in such programs, based on earning a high school diploma or the equivalent of such diploma and the future enrollment and completion of increasingly higher levels of education;

(3) encouraging each participant to engage in public and community service after completion of the program based on career choices and service in other service programs such as the Volunteers in Service to America Program and National Senior Volunteer Corps programs established under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.), the Peace Corps (as established by the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.)), the military, and part-time volunteer service;

(4) promoting of positive attitudes among each participant regarding the role of such participant in solving community problems based on the view of such participant regarding the personal capacity of such participant to improve the lives of others, the responsibilities of such participant as a citizen and community member, and other factors;

(5) enabling each participant to finance a lesser portion of the higher education of such participant through student loans;

(6) providing services and projects that benefit the community;

(7) supplying additional volunteer assistance to community agencies without overloading such agencies with more volunteers than can effectively be utilized;

(8) providing services and activities that could not otherwise be performed by employed workers and that will not supplant the hiring of, or result in the displacement of, employed workers or impair the existing contracts of such workers; and

(9) attracting a greater number of citizens to public service, including service in the active and reserve components of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, the Peace Corps (as established by the Peace Corps Act (22 U.S.C. 2501 et seq.)), and the VISTA and National Senior Volunteer Corps programs established under the Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973 (42 U.S.C. 4950 et seq.).

(h) Obtaining information

(1) In general

In conducting the evaluations required under this section, the Corporation may require each program participant and State or local applicant to provide such information as may be necessary to carry out the requirements of this section.

(2) Confidentiality

(A) In general

The Corporation shall maintain the confidentiality of information acquired under this subsection regarding individual participants.

(B) Disclosure

(i) Consent

The content of any information described in subparagraph (A) may be disclosed with the prior written consent of the individual participant with respect to whom the information is maintained.

(ii) Aggregate information

The Corporation may disclose information about the aggregate characteristics of such participants.

(i) Independent evaluation and report of demographics of national service participants and communities

(1) Independent evaluation

(A) In general

The Corporation shall, on an annual basis, arrange for an independent evaluation of the programs assisted under division C of this subchapter.

(B) Participants

(i) In general

The entity conducting such evaluation shall determine the demographic characteristics of the participants in such programs.

(ii) Characteristics

The entity shall determine, for the year covered by the evaluation, the total number of participants in the programs, and the number of participants within the programs in each State, by sex, age, economic background, education level, ethnic group, disability classification, and geographic region.

(iii) Categories

The Corporation shall determine appropriate categories for analysis of each of the characteristics referred to in clause (ii) for purposes of such an evaluation.

(C) Communities

In conducting the evaluation, the entity shall determine the amount of assistance provided under section 12571 of this title during the year that has been expended for projects conducted under the programs in areas described in section 12585(c)(6) of this title.

(2) Report

The entity conducting the evaluation shall submit a report to the President, Congress, the Corporation, and each State Commission containing the results of the evaluation-

(A) with respect to the evaluation covering the year beginning on September 21, 1993, not later than 18 months after September 21, 1993; and

(B) with respect to the evaluation covering each subsequent year, not later than 18 months after the first day of each such year.

( Pub. L. 101–610, title I, §179, Nov. 16, 1990, 104 Stat. 3164 ; Pub. L. 102–384, §§4, 9, Oct. 5, 1992, 106 Stat. 1455 , 1456; Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §118, title II, §203(a)(1)(A), title IV, §402(b)(1), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 865 , 891, 918; Pub. L. 103–160, div. A, title XI, §1182(d)(4), Nov. 30, 1993, 107 Stat. 1773 .)

References in Text

Section 216(a) of title 5, referred to in subsec. (a)(2)(C), was probably meant to be a reference to section 261(a) of Title 10, Armed Forces. Section 261 of Title 10 was repealed by Pub. L. 103–337, div. A, title XVI, §1661(a)(2)(A), Oct. 5, 1994, 108 Stat. 2979 . See section 10101 of Title 10.

The Peace Corps Act, referred to in subsecs. (a)(2)(D) and (g)(3), (9), is Pub. L. 87–293, Sept. 22, 1961, 75 Stat. 612 , as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 34 (§2501 et seq.) of Title 22, Foreign Relations and Intercourse. For complete classification of that Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 2501 of Title 22 and Tables.

Section 12575 of this title, referred to in subsec. (g)(1), was in the original a reference to section 145 of Pub. L. 101–610. Section 145 of Pub. L. 101–610 was omitted in the general amendment of subtitle D of title I of Pub. L. 101–610 [former part D of this subchapter] by Pub. L. 103–82, title I, §102(a), Sept. 21, 1993, 107 Stat. 816 . Pub. L. 103–82 enacted a new section 125 of Pub. L. 101–610, relating to training and technical assistance, and a new section 145, relating to establishment of the National Service Trust, which are classified to sections 12575 and sections 12601, respectively, of this title. Provisions relating to the eligibility of individuals for participation in national service programs are now contained in section 12591 et seq. of this title.

The Domestic Volunteer Service Act of 1973, referred to in subsec. (g)(3), (9), is Pub. L. 93–113, Oct. 1, 1973, 87 Stat. 394 , as amended, which is classified principally to chapter 66 (§4950 et seq.) of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see Short Title note set out under section 4950 of this title and Tables.

Amendments

1993-Subsec. (a). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission" in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 103–82, §203(a)(1)(A), substituted "the national service laws" for "this subchapter" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 103–82, §118(1)(A), substituted "with respect to the programs authorized under division C of this subchapter" for "for purposes of the reports required by subsection (j) of this section" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (a)(2)(A). Pub. L. 103–82, §118(1)(B), substituted "National Senior Volunteer Corps programs" for "older American volunteer programs".

Subsec. (a)(2)(B). Pub. L. 103–160 substituted "section 101(a)(4) of title 10" for "section 101(4) of title 10".

Subsec. (b). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission".

Pub. L. 103–82, §203(a)(1)(A), substituted "the national service laws" for "this subchapter".

Subsec. (e). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission".

Pub. L. 103–82, §203(a)(1)(A), substituted "the national service laws" for "this subchapter".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission".

Subsec. (g). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission" in introductory provisions.

Pub. L. 103–82, §118(2)(A), substituted "division C of this subchapter" for "part D of this subchapter" in introductory provisions.

Subsec. (g)(3), (9). Pub. L. 103–82, §118(2)(B), substituted "National Senior Volunteer Corps programs" for "older American volunteer programs".

Subsec. (h)(1), (2)(A), (B)(ii). Pub. L. 103–82, §402(b)(1), substituted "Corporation" for "Commission".

Subsecs. (i), (j). Pub. L. 103–82, §118(3), (4), added subsec. (i) and struck out former subsecs. (i) and (j) which related to deadline and report, respectively.

1992-Subsec. (a)(2). Pub. L. 102–384, §9(1), substituted "subsection (j)" for "subsection (h)".

Subsec. (d). Pub. L. 102–384, §4, substituted "Commission" for "Secretary".

Subsec. (f). Pub. L. 102–384, §9(2), inserted "or post-service benefit" after "voucher".

Subsec. (h)(1). Pub. L. 102–384, §9(3)(A), substituted "this section" for "subsection (g) of this section".

Subsec. (h)(2). Pub. L. 102–384, §9(3)(B), added par. (2) and struck out former par. (2) which read as follows: "The Commission shall keep information acquired under this section confidential."

Effective Date of 1993 Amendment

Amendment by section 118 of Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 123 of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 1701 of Title 16, Conservation.

Amendment by section 203(a)(1)(A) of Pub. L. 103–82 effective Apr. 4, 1994, see section 203(d) of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 12651 of this title.

Amendment by section 402(b)(1) of Pub. L. 103–82 effective Oct. 1, 1993, see section 406(a) of Pub. L. 103–82, set out as a note under section 5061 of this title.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in sections 12624, 12651d of this title.

¹ So in original. Probably should be "Service".

² See References in Text note below.