Ways to approach the evaluation of South Carolina's Parent Education Program are examined. The program's purpose is to improve children's school success by strengthening the family, particularly during the children's first 5 years. Program goals are to: (1) demonstrate effective methods of parent training and support that will enable parents to excel in their role as the principle teachers of their preschool children; (2) develop and coordinate appropriate services based on the growth and development of the child; (3) improve the education, skills, and employment of parents; and (4) assure preschool developmental screening for all children whose families are served. Pilot projects of the program are guided by several key components, including parent training, parent and family services, literacy training and other forms of adult training, and developmental screenings. The application of Jacob's five-level program evaluation design in combination with other methodologies for the evaluation of South Carolina's program provides an example of the way in which a statewide assessment framework might emerge. Needs assessment, common delivery systems, parent and family support, interagency collaboration, staff training, and a focus on at-risk families are common evaluation methods. The need for pilot project evaluations to focus on descriptive data is noted. Strategies to ensure that all components are integrated into an effective design are suggested for longitudinal evaluations. Contains 10 references. (LB)