This article explores the planning and implementation process for a community partnership school for a historically low-performing elementary school using an asset-based community development approach. We offer insights into the community needs assessment process that enabled four key community partners to identify needs and projects for the…

Schools serving communities with high rates of poverty face the profound challenge of meeting the needs of students who are often exposed to significant family and environmental stressors and trauma. Classroom staff are vital members of school communities who often work closely with students with the highest needs, but they are typically not…

To address the needs and interests of primary stakeholders in a writing program, this article presents a model of "grassroots" assessment that involves instructors from all ranks as well as students in the development, facilitation, and interpretation of assessment results. The authors describe two assessment plans that measured student…

Because different medical specialties accredit their residency programs in different ways, departmental needs for faculty development in essentially the same content may vary. This training team realized that using a consultant model allowed them to meet departmental needs while keeping content validity intact. By combining best practice from…

This article describes two methods for use in program development and refinement. Problem mapping and forcefield analysis are explained with a real-world example about parenting education. Both methods are visual and consider multiple causes and effects of a problem. The methods are effective for clearly thinking through a problem, identifying…

Across the United States, teachers and teacher educators are facing increased accountability for improved student achievement. Using assessment results to inform instruction provides a catalyst to improve student outcomes and is a key skill for preservice teacher candidates. The process of data-based decision making is integral to performance…

Given complaints about preparation of international students for their writing-intensive courses, a director of first-year writing and an undergraduate researcher at a Midwestern research university conducted a needs assessment based on Kaufman's model. Instruments used included a survey, interviews, and analysis of commentary on sample papers.…

This Needs Assessment Compendium has been developed to provide Rhode Island school districts in the Local Planning and Assessment Process with a means for selecting or developing a needs assessment instrument. This document contains descriptive summaries of 23 approaches that were undertaken by local, state, and commercial agencies throughout the…

The script for a slide show which describes the goal-setting process undertaken by the Elkhart (Indiana) Community Schools to determine educational priorities is presented along with reproductions of the slides used in the show. Topics covered in the script and the slide reproductions include: (1) background information on the Elkhart schools; (2)…

This document presents abstracts describing 25 needs assessment projects appropriate for a variety of educational levels. The abstracts provide an overview of each model as well as information on the developer, source, cost, copyright, procedures for use, implementation needs, and special features. (IRT)

Needs-assessment instruments from commercial sources are helpful in generating ideas. Any instrument will, however, be more effective if it is specifically adapted for the particular school and community using the instrument. The counselors, principals, teachers, students, and parents all can provide helpful suggestions about meaningful items and…

Presents an analysis of a Student Affairs Division's self-evaluation and resulting reorganization, including findings, recommendations, and the data-gathering instrument. (Author)

A conceptual scheme developed by the National Needs Analysis Project in Behavior Disorders is presented for guiding program description and evaluation in the behavioral disorders field. The scheme identifies essential program components such as philosophy, community involvement, and exit procedures. Underlying assumptions, the development process,…

Focusing on problem statements rather than solution statements has implications for both consumer involvement and counselor continuing education in rehabilitation. The nominal group process is a means to assess and prioritize problem statements as a first step in program planning that should result in increased participation in the resultant…

This publication discusses the development and use of an Educational Needs Projection (ENP) model designed to estimate the number of students "who have difficulty with instruction in English" in the Houston Independent School District. Unlike a state-mandated program that requires teachers and counselors to identify Limited…