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Planning and Implementing Needs Assessments for Federal Programs

Planning and Implementing Needs Assessments for Federal Programs. VDOE Coordinators’ Academy Tuesday, July 30, 2013 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m. Welcome. What is your current experience with needs assessments? Federal grant program School Improvement Other. Session Outcomes.

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Planning and Implementing Needs Assessments for Federal Programs

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  1. Planning and Implementing Needs Assessments for Federal Programs VDOE Coordinators’ Academy Tuesday, July 30, 2013 9:15 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.

  2. Welcome What is your current experience with needs assessments? • Federal grant program • School Improvement • Other

  3. Session Outcomes • Strengthen understandings of the needs assessment cycle; • Share effective practices for completing needs assessments; • Consider ways to get the most impact from the findings of needs assessments; and • Reflect on approaches for monitoring and refining processes.

  4. Definition • What is a needs assessment? • Collecting and analyzing data to identify challenges • Forming solutions to address challenges

  5. Key Considerations • Who will be involved? • How will a vision be clarified? • What data will be included? • Where will findings be communicated? • When will results be revisited? • Why is the process important?

  6. Engaging Stakeholders Who holds a perspective that will be valuable as you identify needs? • How can you understand your stakeholders’ priorities? • What should your stakeholders understand about the needs assessment process?

  7. Clear Vision for Reform How will federal, state, and local priorities be aligned? Through what lens will data be viewed? • Whole system reform • Targeted change • Process improvement

  8. Sharing with Colleagues How do you bring together a variety of perspectives toward a common vision?

  9. Data Sources What data sources will inform decisions? • Hard data (performance) • Student achievement/graduation rates • Student growth • Discipline/attendance • Teacher quality

  10. Data Sources, cont. What data sources will inform decisions? • Soft data (beliefs) • Collaborative culture • Working conditions • Professional learning • Efficacy of staff and students • Relationships and cultural awareness • Family and community involvement

  11. Sharing with Colleagues What types of data have you found most useful to inform your planning?

  12. Data Analysis What method will be used to analyze data? • Data dialogue • Needs sensing interview • Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities Threats (SWOT) charting

  13. Data Synthesis What method will be used to synthesize information from multiple data sources? • Identifying trends and themes across data sources • Viewing findings through the lens of established goals and priorities

  14. Sample Data Protocol Phase 1 − Activating & Engaging Outcome: Make predictions and voice assumptions • What do we expect to see? • What assumptions do we hold? • What questions do we have?

  15. Sample Data Protocol, cont. Phase 2 − Exploring & Discovering Outcome: Make observations (just the facts) • What points pop out? • What patterns are emerging? • What is surprising?

  16. Sample Data Protocol, cont. Phase 3 − Organizing & Integrating Outcome: Generate theories and propose action steps • What conclusions can we draw? • What additional data do we need? • What solutions might we explore?

  17. Sharing with Colleagues What about this sample process might be useful for you?

  18. Questions? What questions do you have about needs assessments in general or about the data analysis component?

  19. Applying the Findings Where will the findings be used in division planning? • Federal grant application process • Fiscal planning • Division improvement planning • Strategic governance • Project management

  20. Monitoring When will the resulting action plans be revisited for continuous improvement? • SMART goals What exactly do I want to see change? • Regular monitoring of progress Does my data show any difference? • Systematic reflection cycle Am I seeing the intended outcomes overall?

  21. Sharing with Colleagues What are some ways you monitor the goals that come out of your annual needs assessments?

  22. Impact Why is the needs assessment process important for division planning? • Embraces broad viewpoints • Responds to changing needs • Reinforces priorities • Unites division efforts • Promotes continuous growth

  23. Resources Where can more information on needs assessments be found? • Non-Regulatory Guidance: • Designing Schoolwide Programs, Section B • Improving Teacher Quality, Section D • OSI Change Map for Capacity Building • OPAA Technical Assistance for Federal Grants Applications

  24. Tools What are some tools available to support the needs assessments? • Data-Driven Dialogue by Wellman & Lipton, 2004 • OSI Needs Sensing Interviewprotocol • School improvement planning tools (e.g., Indistar tools)

  25. Questions? What questions do you have about how needs assessments can be applied or about the resources and tools available?

  26. Reflection and Take-Aways What from today’s session do you feel you could apply in your division? • What from today’s session would you like to investigate further?

  27. Presenter Contact Information Fairfax County Public Schools • Teddi Predaris, Director, Language Acquisition & Title I, Instructional Services Department, tgpredaris@fcps.edu, (571) 423-4650 • Bettrys Huffman, Coordinator, Title I, Instructional Services Department, bjhuffman@fcps.edu, (571) 423-4706

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