Comprehensive Needs Assessment
THE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IS A SYSTEMATIC EXAMINATION OF THE GAP THAT EXISTS BETWEEN THE CURRENT STATE AND DESIRED STATE OF A SCHOOL. IT IS REQUIRED AS THE FIRST STEP IN IMPROVING THE EFFECTIVENESS OF EDUCATION INVESTMENTS THAT LEAD TO BETTER OUTCOMES FOR STUDENTS.
Why is the CNA important?
A needs assessment for improvement is a systemic process that helps to determine strengths and weaknesses of a school as well as understand its context & constraints.
A root cause analysis is performed as part of this process so strategy selection can address problems rather than symptoms and eliminate wasted effort and resources. It also helps to identify long range goals and short term targets.
The comprehensive needs assessment of the entire school shall:
a. Include an analysis of verifiable state data, consistent with all state priorities as noted in Sections 52060 and 52066, and informed by all indicators described in Section 1111(c)(4)(B) of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act, including pupil performance against state-determined long-term goals. The school may include data voluntarily developed by districts to measure pupil outcomes (described in the Identified Need); and
b. Be based on academic achievement information about all students in the school, including all groups under §200.13(b)(7) and migratory children as defined in section 1309(2) of the ESEA, relative to the State's academic standards under §200.1 to—
i. Help the school understand the subjects and skills for which teaching and learning need to be improved; and
ii. Identify the specific academic needs of students and groups of students who are not yet achieving the State's academic standards; and
iii. Assess the needs of the school relative to each of the components of the schoolwide program under §200.28.
iv. Develop the comprehensive needs assessment with the participation of individuals who will carry out the schoolwide program plan.
v. Document how it conducted the needs assessment, the results it obtained, and the conclusions it drew from those results.
Root Cause Analysis Methods
Often confused as the CNA, the following methods instead are different options for identifying the focus needs/inequities of a site and their root causes. The root causes are actionable or can be improved with resources effectively addressing them.
CNA in Plan4Learning
Under the Needs Assessment section of Plan4Learning, click the "Summary" subheading to complete all five sections the CNA is comprised of. Make sure Needs Statements are "starred" or "prioritized" in order to attach them SPSA Strategies.