Sessions Library




Lets get Started! You will find that ASSESS YOUR NEEDS falls in stages 1, 2, and 3.
Are you ready to begin thinking about improvements in your own school or school district? Module Five is dedicated to helping you investigate a series of approaches for determining which needs are most critical for your school or school district.
Included in this module are two sample surveys that you might build upon if you're working individually on this task. Also included is a model for a group exercise that you can undertake alongside your peers to form consensus on the issues that, under your leadership, should be tackled in the short and long term.

WHAT IS A NEEDS ASSESSMENT?

One of the most important factors in your success as a Linking Agent is your ability to understand the needs of your school and school district so that you can plan and implement programs that are most effective for meeting those needs. Chances are good that your current role as an educator and community leader has given you a head start in understanding pressing issues. Chances are also good that you and your district can still benefit from a few simple exercises to determine the improvements you need to focus on right now.

This process of "Needs Assessment" can be approached through a variety of activities. Regardless of which approach you take, keep in mind that this process is:
  • Ongoing
  • Integrally related to evaluation
  • A group process
  • Designed to accomplish multiple goals
  • Requires data collection from a variety of sources
  • Requires effective communication every step of the way

So how do you determine which needs are most critical to your school or school district? How are you going to get the long-term "buy-in" from the individuals who will make or break your success?

NEEDS ASSESSMENT PROCESS
Below we outline six steps that should be considered when beginning the needs assessment process.


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