Title: A Systems Approach to Building and Assessing Evaluation Plan Quality , AEA 2010 Panel Session 381 Abstract: The Cornell Office for Research on Evaluation (CORE) uses a systems-based approach to program evaluation and planning that is operationalized through the Systems Evaluation Protocol (SEP). The SEP has been developed, tested, and refined through “Evaluation Partnerships” established with forty education programs in two contexts: Cornell Cooperative Extension, and Outreach Offices in NSF Materials Research, Science and Engineering Centers. Drawing on the SEP, evaluation theory, and experience with these Partnerships, CORE’s concept of evaluation plan quality emphasizes the quality of the program model underlying the plan; how well an evaluation “fits” the program; and the “internal alignment” of the evaluation plan. The panel presents our definition of evaluation plan quality, tools we have developed to begin to assess quality, how we operationalize and observe the development of quality in the Evaluation Partnerships, and education research on the importance of inquiry-based approaches to learning that are embedded in the Evaluation Partnerships.#2010Conference #SystemsinEvaluation #TeachingofEvaluation #OrganizationalLearningandEvalCapacityBuilding