Logic Models: A Tool for Effective Program Planning, Collaboration, and Monitoring

A logic model is a visual representation of the assumptions and theory of action that underlie the structure of an education program. A program can be a strategy for instruction in a classroom, a training session for a group of teachers, a grade-level curriculum, a building-level intervention, or a district-or statewide initiative. This guide, an installment in a four-part series on logic models, describes the role of logic models in effective program planning, collaboration, and monitoring. It defines the four components of these models--resources, activities, outputs, and outcomes--and explains how they connect. Using logic models can help practitioners and evaluators better understand a program's mechanics and structure and chart a course toward improved policy and practice. [This report was prepared for the Institute of Education Sciences (IES) by Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific administered by Mid-continent Research for Education and Learning. To view "Logic Models: A Tool for Designing and Monitoring Program Evaluations. REL 2014-007," see ED544752.]