The Department of Program Evaluation (DPE), a department within AISD's Office of Accountability, is charged with evaluating federal, state, and locally- funded programs in the Austin Independent School District. DPE works with program staff throughout the district to design and carry out formative and summative program evaluations. The evaluations report objectively on program implementation and outcomes, and serve to inform program staff, decision makers, and planners in the district. DPE also responds to information needs at all levels.

Each year, DPE staff develop an agenda which identifies programs to be evaluated and services to be provided. At the end of each school year, DPE submits mandated reports to various federal, state, and local funding agencies, and develops narrative reports reviewing district program implementation and outcomes. Findings are used by program staff to improve programs and by district decision-makers to make program decisions for the district.

DPE coordinates research requests with external agencies, such as universities and governmental organizations. DPE also conducts an annual survey of its employees. Topics cover key issues of importance to district administrators and the survey results provide information about the effectiveness of programs and improvement activities implemented in AISD. Survey results are useful to district administrators in gaining insight into the strengths and weaknesses of various programs and policies of interest. Finally, DPE routinely handles internal data requests and ad hoc research projects for district administrators and decision makers, and each year assists campuses with data required for campus improvement plans and Blue Ribbon Schools applications.