Office of Research and Program Evaluation

The Office of Research and Program Evaluation (ORPE) work spans a wide range of activities from objective accountability reporting on FCPS instructional programs and services to screening all requests to conduct research and collect data within FCPS.

How We Do Our Work

The products and services provided by ORPE reflect professional standards established by the  Joint Committee on Standards for Educational Evaluation (JCSEE) , a coalition of major professional associations in the U.S. and Canada committed to promoting high quality research and evaluation. The JCSEE's standards cover five areas:

• Utility: The utility standards are intended to increase the extent to which program stakeholders find evaluation processes and products valuable in meeting their needs.
• Feasibility: The feasibility standards are intended to increase evaluation effectiveness and efficiency.
• Propriety: The propriety standards support what is proper, fair, legal, right, and just in evaluations.
• Accuracy: The accuracy standards are intended to increase the dependability and truthfulness of evaluation representations, propositions, and findings, especially those that support interpretations and judgments about quality.
• Evaluation Accountability: The evaluation accountability standards encourage adequate documentation of evaluations and a perspective focused on improvement and accountability for evaluation processes and products.

A more detailed explanation of these standards is available .

What We Offer

ORPE serves FCPS staff members, the School Board, and the community through research-based processes, tools, and evidence. Our reports include program evaluations, monitoring projects, and research studies that present evidence of division, school, and program impact and effectiveness. The selection of ORPE's projects is guided by their capacity to inform the Superintendent, Leadership Team, and School Board about FCPS’ goals and strategic initiatives. We also oversee FCPS’ Research Approval Process .

Student Experience Survey (SY 2024-25)

In alignment with the Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS) Strategic Plan 2023-30, ORPE conducted the SY 2024-25 Student Experience Survey and focus groups to capture and elevate student perspectives across grades 3-12. Together, these efforts represent a comprehensive approach to understanding how students experience school and to ensuring that FCPS Strategic Plan goals and equity commitments are informed by an authentic student voice.