National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education of Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent, or At-Risk
Who We Are
View NDTAC's information booklet for more background about the Center and its activities. 
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The National Evaluation and Technical Assistance Center for the Education for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At Risk (NDTAC) is the result of a contract between the U.S. Department of Education and the American Institutes for Research (AIR), a nonprofit research organization that performs basic and applied research, provides technical support, and conducts analyses based on methods of the behavioral and social sciences. AIR's program areas focus on education, health, individual and organizational performance, and quality of life. NDTAC's key staff are Dr. David Osher and Tarek Anandan.
NDTAC's Mission
The overarching mission of NDTAC is to improve educational programming for neglected and delinquent youth. NDTAC is legislated to:
- Develop a uniform evaluation model for State Education Agency (SEA) Title I, Part D, Subpart I programs
- Provide technical assistance (TA) to states in order to increase their capacity for data collection and their ability to use that data to improve educational programming for ND youth
- Serve as a facilitator between different organizations, agencies, and interest groups that work with youth in neglected and delinquent facilities
Uniform Evaluation Model
The uniform evaluation model is based on a set of performance measures that will be used to evaluate ND programs. NDTAC is in the process of developing indicators in consultation with NDTAC's panel of experts, a review of literature, and through analysis of existing evaluation models including the national PbS program, ASAM in California, and JJEEP in Florida. In addition, NDTAC is currently pilot testing the indicators through site visits, speaking with state and facility ND coordinators, educational and assessment professionals, and students at facilities around the country to ensure that these measures are valid and reliable in the field. The formal evaluation is being developed with consideration for what and how data is already collected among states. This initial assessment and informal gathering of information regarding existing data collection efforts is currently taking place with less than 10 states. In the 2004-2005 school year, about 20 states will be formally evaluated; in the 2005-2006 school year, all 50 states will be expected to report data for the evaluation.
Technical Assistance
Through this Web site and through individual technical assistance (TA), NDTAC staff will enable states to increase their capacity for data collection and their ability to use that data to improve their educational programming. On this site, practitioners can learn about innovative programs and practices, access summaries of articles relevant to the ND field, and gain information on No Child Left Behind and how it affects this population. View NDTAC's Direct Assistance page to learn more about our technical assistance offerings. To request TA, contact the NDTAC staff member that has been assigned to your state. This individual will function as a point person for one-on-one technical assistance.
Cross-Agency Facilitation
Some of NDTAC's most intensive TA thus far has taken place at regional conferences. Throughout this year, representatives from the 50 states and Washington D.C. attended the NDTAC's regional conferences. Attendees included ND Coordinators, their education directors, and other state regional partners and practitioners. At the conferences, participants were given the opportunity to network, discuss innovative practices and gain a better understanding of what is going on in the field as a whole.