Training Resources

The following material has been developed to help grantees and sponsors understand the CNCS priorities and performance measures. You are encouraged to use this material to train your staff members and program staff of sub-grantees and sites. The material can be used "as is" or adapted for use with your own training audiences. Except where noted otherwise, this material can be used with grantees and sponsors of any program type, including AmeriCorps State and National, Senior Corps, and AmeriCorps VISTA.

General Performance Measurement Training Resources

Use the material below to train sponsors, grantees and sub-grantees on key performance measurement (PM) concepts, including PM basics, Theory of Change, evidence, aligning PMs, quality and rigor, and PM versus evaluation.

Performance Measurement Overview
Use the material below to provide introductory training on performance measurement, the “what” and “why of performance measurement, and CNCS Agency-wide Priority Measures.

Theory of Change
Use the material below to introduce training participants to Theory of Change as a useful way to employ evidence to articulate relationships between community need, intervention and outcomes.

Evidence
Use the material below to train participants on effective use of data to document community need and to support the choice of program intervention.

Alignment and Quality
Use the material below to train participants on aligning performance measures with a Theory of Change, aligning outputs and outcomes, and criteria for implementing high-quality, rigorous performance measurement.

Data Collection and Aggregation
Use the material below to understand core concepts associated with high quality data collection and aggregation; assess the quality of current data collection tools and systems; and identify upgrades needed to make to insure high quality, rigorous data collection and meaningful reporting.

Performance Measurement and Evaluation
Use the material below to train participants on the similarities and differences between performance measurement and evaluation, and on their respective uses.

Additional Material

Use the material below as training handouts and as reference material to create your own training sessions.

Training Material from Pilot Events

The training material below was piloted at training events sponsored by Serve DC and the New York State Commission on National & Community Service. The purpose of these pilots was to develop training content to support the Corporation's Agency-Wide Priority Measures. The training sessions were open to grantees and sub-grantees of all programs.

AmeriCorps – Serve DC training material
The material listed below was used during a full-day training provided to Washington DC AmeriCorps State sub-grantees in 2011. The purpose of this pilot was to develop and test training content and materials for use by all commissions. Topics addressed include performance measurement basics, Theory of Change, logic models, evidence basis for interventions, reviewing performance measures for alignment, and eGrants Tips. Resources include presentation slides, lesson plans, exercise worksheets, and material to assist the facilitator.

AmeriCorps – New York Commission training material
The material listed below was used during a half-day training provided to New York sub-grantees in 2011. The purpose of this pilot was to develop and test training content and materials for use by all commissions. Topics addressed include why performance measurement matters, performance measurement requirements, Theory of Change, evidence basis for interventions, reviewing performance measures for alignment, and similarities and differences between performance measurement and evaluation. Resources include presentation slides, lesson plans, exercise worksheets, and material to assist the facilitator.