Questions about measuring social impact

Last week’s discussion about measuring social impact made clear to me the magnitude of ways that you can measure social impact.  With Face Race, we need to measure the bottom line difference that this program or platform would have on customers businesses.  But I have been thinking back to earlier this semester when I was pursuing my own venture, I still have questions of how the measurement would have been an accurate “dipstick” of the teacher training.  I can see how the other ventures in the class would be measured using a variety of techniques, but how do you measure when there are a multitude of other interventions or services at play? In the case of teacher training, the data could just vary from year to year because of different students?  Or other variables that can’t be controlled? In my experience in education, this is a common problem with “statistical” data about a given program, curriculum, policy or reform.  The new item is not able to be truly isolated to test.  Technology interventions in schools with e-learning is the best example I can think of that pointedly can be measured.   In reflection, that’s my question for this week.  How do you truly measure social impact of a public school when there are a variety of factors at work? I am not invested in the teacher training concept as a feasible venture, but I know I will still spend some of my career seeking solutions to bettering our schools and it would be beneficial to seek an answer now. 

On another note, I wish I would have read ahead as the readings for this week would have been a good refresher for the financial exam I had last week.  : )

But the timing is also perfect, I spent this weekend talking to close friends who are looking for ways to increase cash flow in their business.  Now, I will have more to contribute at the continuation of our conversation.