Continuously improving schools identify strengths and issues, then set goals and regularly review progress against them. The purpose of a comprehensive school needs assessment is to bring administrators and teachers together as a team to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the school and make decisions on how to bring about needed improvements in the classroom and in the school as a whole. The needs assessment is a school-focused process that operates on the belief that improving teaching and learning is a continuous effort, which requires open and objective dialogue and the creation of shared visions in a professional and non-threatening environment. The process incorporates the International Center’s Learning Criteria to Support 21st Century Learners and the Components of School Excellence.

Objectives

• Develop a needs assessment report that identifies school strengths and critical challenges.
• Make specific recommendations that address critical challenges
• Identify and prioritize key actions that will drive the development of a customized school improvement action plan

Related Resources

DVD

• From Needs Assessment to Strategic Action
• The Nation’s Most Successful Schools — Lessons Learned

Surveys

• We Learn – Student Survey
• We Teach – Instructional Staff Survey
• We Lead – Whole Staff Survey

Tools

• Learning Criteria to Support 21st Century Learners™

*This workshop should be conducted as part of a comprehensive school reform effort. It cannot be done as a stand alone workshop.