The following status report was developed in response to that request. The report was cooperatively developed by all the participating PATH Federal partners. The report is a highly detailed plan that not only sets forth all the very specific actions that are presently or soon will be initiated by the PATH program, but also milestone dates for completing such actions and descriptions of their current status.

The plan in this report closely follows the structure of the PATH Operating Plan. The first column restates the objectives for each goal that were included in the PATH Operating Plan. The second column provides statements of planned near term actions. This is followed by milestone end dates, sponsoring agencies, and industry participation. The last column provides a status report of progress in completing the planned actions.

Each objective in the report was previously identified in the Operating Plan as essential towards meeting PATH’s overall goals. Each of the actions in the plan is targeted at meeting both the PATH operating objectives as well as the overall goals of the PATH program.

Identifying and measuring progress in meeting the Operating Plan is the first step in developing an overall evaluation plan for the PATH program. In this regard, the Department has requested the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences to establish a multi-year oversight and assessment process for PATH. This thoroughly independent review will review the goals of the PATH program; the approach proposed to meet the goals and the likelihood of achieving them; and over time, an evaluation of the progress that has been made toward achieving the goals. To this end, the National Research Council may also develop performance measures specifically tailored to the PATH program.

To assure that PATH achieves both the stated actions of the plan as well as its overall objectives, The Department plans to develop similar progress reports in each year of the program.