Performance and Evaluation Strategy

NASA STEM Engagement executes a comprehensive performance assessment and evaluation strategy, 

Annual Performance Plan (APP) and a Learning Agenda.

NASA is enhancing the effectiveness of STEM engagement investments using performance assessment 

and evaluation-driven processes including the development and execution of a comprehensive 

performance assessment and evaluation strategy, Annual Performance Plan (APP) and a Learning 

Agenda. The Annual Performance Plan defines NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) performance 

goals and success criteria in alignment with NASA’s 2022 Strategic Plan and supports the Federal STEM 

Education Strategic Plan. The NASA STEM Engagement Learning Agenda puts forth Learning Questions 

with associated sub-questions, Learning Activities and assessment methodologies, and Learning 

Products that will inform the NASA Office of STEM Engagement’s understanding of the scope, methods, 

mechanisms, and impacts of its investments. The answers to these questions will enable the Office to 

more effectively prioritize and narrow the focus of STEM engagement investment areas by making 

evidence-based budgetary, programmatic, and operational decisions. Annually, a body of evidence (i.e., 

milestone accomplishments, performance and participation data, evaluation outcomes, and/or other 

metrics) is generated to assess progress of STEM engagement investments in achieving APP 

performance goals and success criteria and to assess outcomes. 

The NASA Office of STEM Engagement (OSTEM) comprehensive performance assessment and evaluation 

strategy includes three key components: performance activities, evaluation activities, and a learning 

agenda.

• Through our performance activities, we monitor program accomplishments, particularly 

progress toward our established performance goals.

• Through our evaluation activities, we examine how a particular program meets its objectives, 

typically executed through year-long studies.

• The learning agenda allows us to look systematically across performance and evaluation 

activities to identify gaps in knowledge and establish a research agenda that generates knowledge to fill 

these gaps.

Each component of the strategy provides a unique contribution to OSTEM’s continuous improvement 

and evidence-based decision-making processes while simultaneously contributing to a portfolio of 

evidence that is used to inform evidence-based budgetary, programmatic, and operational decisions.
The NASA OSTEM assesses progress of its investments towards achieving programmatic goals and 

objectives and progress in achieving the following multi-year OSTEM Performance Goals (PGs) outlined 

in the Annual Performance Plan (APP) which directly align with the 2020-2023 NASA Strategy for STEM 

Engagement Strategic Goals 1, 2 and 3:

• Performance Goal 4.3.1 (Strategy for STEM Engagement Goal 1) Create unique opportunities for 

a diverse set of students to contribute to NASA’s work in exploration and discovery.

• Performance Goal 4.3.2 (Strategy for STEM Engagement Goal 2) Build a diverse future STEM 

workforce by engaging students in authentic learning experiences with NASA’s people, content and 

facilities.

• Performance Goal 4.3.3 (Strategy for STEM Engagement Goal 3) Attract diverse groups of 

students to STEM through learning opportunities that spark interest and provide connections to NASA's 

mission and work.

STEM Engagement Strategic Performance Framework