Importance of Formative Evaluation. The more conservative values of preservation and restoration operating on Indian reservations suggest that tribal programs need to be evaluated within their own context. The major evaluation questions become formative and tribe-specific (“How can we improve our service delivery?” or “What have we learned from this program or project?”). The view is inward; questions that imply comparison with populations outside the tribal community are less relevant to a community that is focused on its own growth and development. I found this to be true when researching evaluation issues in tribal schools in the 1980s. Reacting to a national evaluation driven by political forces in Congress against the tribal movement to control their own schools, the Senate commissioned a study of tribally controlled schools. The study specifically requested that these schools be matched with public schools serving students on the same reservation that also had a tribal school. The schools were compared on achievement, attendance, and per-pupil costs. Although the study failed to yield much of value for the political forces driving it, it definitely was not useful for administrators and staff in tribal schools. My research (LaFrance, 1990) found that the evaluation interests of tribal school personnel centered on “within school” concerns. They were interested in students doing well over their time in the school and whether they were developing a good sense of self-esteem. They wanted to know if the curriculum was meeting its objectives. They did value learning how their school compared to oth- ers; however, this question was of secondary importance and one that would not drive policy decisions.