1. Shorten Your Titles. Use short, informative titles for your objectives (about 40 characters). They have to fit on your APR Map. WBRS will automatically add the Priority Area to your title. Some programs start each title with an abbreviation of the objective area and objective number ("GTD1","MD2",etc).

2. Streamline Your Reporting. If possible, limit yourself to one Implementation Plan per objective. Consider selecting an Accomplishment Category that encompasses the entire activity - acres restored instead of trees planted, weeds removed, and debris cleared. If you're planning on using multiple implementation plans, you may want to confer with your Program Officer.

3. List Outcome Measures. The measures you list in Part III of the Implementation Plan should address the question of results as identifies in your objective.

4. Make It An Objective, Not An Independent Accomplishment. If you plan to document outcomes for an activity, you should enter it as a New Objective on your APR Map, not as an Independent Accomplishment. Use the Independent Accomplishment section of your APR to report on activities not directly related to your objectives, and for which you do not intend to measure outcomes.

5. Enter Your Data For Accomplishments Often. Consider entering data about accomplishments on a regular basis, such as monthly or quarterly. This is easier than trying to do everything at the end. When you enter accomplishment data, check the totals automatically computed by WBRS to make sure they are right.

6. Outcome Data - Describe Your Procedures. In the outcome data screen, use the first text box to write a brief paragraph describing how you collected and prepared your outcome data for analysis.

7. Outcome Data - Write Concise Report Findings. In the outcome data screen, use the second text box to write a brief paragraph describing your results. Copy the Result and Standard statements from your objective and revise them to produce a concise statement6 reporting how many beneficiaries showed improvement, how much improvement they showed, and how the results compare to your standard of success.

8. Accumulate Great Stories. Throughout the year, collect anecdotal information about program achievements and report these in the Great Stories section of your APR. If any of your great stories come from your outcome measures and provide evidence of meeting your standard, you can put them in the outcome data screen or directly in the Progress Report, Part 13.

9. Answer All Questions in the Progress Report, Part 13. For each objective, answer the three questions that appear in part 13 of the Progress Report immediately below the peach-colored boxes containing information inherited from your APR Map. Even if you have nothing to report for a particular question, write something like "No new information to report at this time," to show that you did not ignore the question.

10. Call Project STAR at 1-800-548-3656. Remember to consult with your Program Officer and get their guidance and suggestions for completing the APR. If you need further assistance with your AmeriCorps Progress Report, you can also speak with an evaluation specialist, who can assist you with your APR and other evaluation and reporting needs.