Project SOLAR: Strengthening Operations for Learning And Results

Strengthening Operations for Learning And Results (SOLAR) is a training and technical assistance (T/TA) planning and evaluation process. Project SOLAR is designed to support Head Start programs in their staff improvement and overall program improvement goals. The project is developing a Web-based T/TA tool suite to assist local Head Start program leaders in developing and managing T/TA plans. The centerpiece of the tool suite is a set of five staff performance inventories that allow managers to record, analyze, and compare assessments of staff skills and knowledge. This system of sound T/TA planning and management techniques, combined with state-of-the-art data management technology, will provide an unprecedented ability to target T/TA resources and track the impact of their resulting interventions. The approach also provides the potential to generate a composite of data for use in regional and national T/TA decision- making.