El Sistema is an evidence-based system of music education for social change. Founded in Venezuela in 1975, El Sistema creates an environment of opportunity through the collective practice of ensemble-based instruction as a model for youth personal, social, academic and musical development. All programs seek to effect social change through music for children with the fewest resources and the greatest need.

Team members conducted phone interviews using semi-structured interview guides. They found that although each program is working to fulfill the mission of El Sistema, all of them need their own evaluation model and design based off their unique structure and stage of development.