Which term best describes the agreed-upon standards for assessing quality in a program?

The term that best describes the agreed-upon standards for assessing quality in a program is norms and expectations. This terminology specifically refers to the benchmarks and standards that have been established to evaluate how well a program is meeting its goals and objectives. Norms are the accepted principles or rules that define acceptable behavior or outcomes, while expectations relate to the anticipated standards of performance. Together, they provide a framework against which programs can be judged, ensuring consistency in evaluation and accountability.

Metrics for evaluation, while related, focus more on the quantitative measures used in assessing outcomes rather than on the agreed-upon standards themselves. Normative measures can refer to statistical measures based on group norms but do not encompass the broader context of program quality. Performance indicators are specific measures that can be used to indicate the success of a program but do not capture the entirety of norms and expectations that guide quality assessment. Thus, norms and expectations effectively encapsulate the standards for program quality assessment.