Assess Needs
Discover Data: Explore and organize all types of data
Analyze Data: Analyze data to discover the root cause of current issues
Embedded Files
Overview
Overview
Engaging in an "assess needs" process helps a district gain a picture of its achievements and challenges and identify the factors that are critical to its success. This includes looking at data from a number of sources (academic, non-academic and systems) as well as a variety of kinds of data (achievement, demographic, perception, and process) to identify the “what,” or the gap between the current state and the desired future state. Engaging in root cause analysis asks participants to look at a variety of possible issues to get to the primary contributing factor(s); it helps determine “why” the district is where it is. Putting these processes together allows the district to identify challenges or opportunities for growth, as well as assets that can be leveraged to address those opportunities. Understanding what is working well and what needs to be changed is crucial to effectively identifying goals and strategies that, if implemented with fidelity, can help the district reach its goals and achieve success.
Identifying Areas of Need
Whole Child Data Discovery
Creating a Custom Data Set
Writing Your Data Story
Root Cause Analysis
Create a Challenge Statement
Considerations
Considerations
What is the purpose of your district or school?
What is your story as a district? What are your points of pride? What are your points of pain? What data might help tell that story?
What is the profile of students who attend your district/school(s)? How are you maximizing students’ strengths and providing what your students need?
What do you expect students to know and be able to do by the time they leave school? By the end of each year?
Will the knowledge and skills students acquire within your district prepare them for success when they leave?
Why are you getting the results you get?
What would your district educational processes look like if they were achieving their purpose, goals, and expectations for student learning?
What data do you currently have available to you – academic, non-academic, systems? To what extent will it help measure equity or the lack of equity in systems, outcomes, and resources? What else do you need? How will you get it?
What protocol does the district use to make meaning of the data?
Which voices need to be part of this conversation, both internally and from the broader community?
Assessing Needs is a process that is iterative rather than linear. You will find yourself engaging in the assessing needs process on a regular basis throughout the continuous improvement cycle. Keeping questions (accessed through the drop down above) such as these in mind might be helpful during this process.
Resources
Resources
MDE MTSS Practice Profile 5.0
MDE MTSS Practice Profile 5.0
Essential Component: Continuous Data-Based Decision Making (p. 34 - 37)
MDE MTSS Practice Profile 5.0
MDE MTSS Practice Profile 5.0
Comprehensive Screening and Assessment System (p. 29 - 33)
MDE Presentation
MDE Presentation
MICIP: Assess Needs Process
Supplemental Resources
Supplemental Resources
Facilitation Presentation
Facilitation Presentation
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