CONDUCTING A COMPREHENSIVE NEEDS ASSESSMENT IN YOUR

LEA

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TODAY’S GOALSTODAY’S GOALS

Basic components of comprehensive needs assessment process

Sample tools available

Importance of collaboration in identifying resources and support

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KEEP IN MIND

The law applies to ALL students

All LEAs – those with and those without McKinney-Vento subgrants

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NEEDS ASSESSMENTWHY?

Creates a cross-program view of the needs of homeless children and youth

Helps identify gaps between needs and services

Ensures that decisions are based on data

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WHY, CONT’D

Reinforces collective responsibility

Creates a foundation for collaboration

Helps identify available resources

Provides a basis for the Title I-Ahomeless set-aside amount

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THE TITLE I-A SET-THE TITLE I-A SET-ASIDE:ASIDE:

THE BASICSTHE BASICS

Title I of ESEA requires districts to set aside Title I-A funds to be used to serve homeless students; there is no federally mandated amount/method of calculation

Title I-A funds should be used to support the student in meeting the state’s academic standards

Homeless students are automatically eligible for Title I services, even if they don’t attend a Title I school or meet the academic standards required of other students for eligibility

Homeless students are eligible to receive Title I support for the rest of any academic year in which they become permanently housed

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NEW TOOL AVAILABLE

Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services – A

Guide for SEAs, LEAs, and Local Schools

Available on the NCHE Website

www.serve.org/nche

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GUIDE BASED ON LAW

This new Guide is predicated on

The Law: McKinney-Vento and Title I

Standards and Indicators

Federal monitoring indicators

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PART I: NEEDS ASSESSMENT

• Narrative - describes process• Shared responsibility• On-going process• Steps for planning • Developing an action plan

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GUIDING QUESTIONS

• Guiding Questions – 8 categories• Awareness• Policy/Procedures• Identification, Enrollment, Access• Student Success• Collaboration – Internal• Collaboration – External• Resources/Capacity• Charter Schools

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Which of these questions resonate with you, now?

What are your most immediate concerns?

Is there one category that seems most relevant to your current program needs?

FINDING THE RIGHT FINDING THE RIGHT QUESTIONSQUESTIONS

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SUMMARY WORKSHEET

• Summary sheet helps to:• Identify most important

challenges• Identify area in which further

data/information is needed• Decide what further action is

needed

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ACTION PLANNINGACTION PLANNING

• Analyze summary data and ratings

• Prioritize areas needing improvement

• Identify strengths to build on

• Select strategies to address priorities

• Identify resources needed ( personnel and financial)

• Identify process/structure for action planning process

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MAKING IT MANAGEABLE

What can I reasonably do in the coming year?

• Select a couple of questions from each category to address this year?

• Pick the category that seems to be my most critical area of need at the present time and drill down on these specific questions?

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MAKING IT MANAGEABLE, CONT’D

Form a team and begin a comprehensive needs assessment process as described in the Guide

Coordinate with another program or agency, conducting a joint needs assessment

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In what ways could a needs assessment benefit your work, and your district?

What resources or data sources could you draw on to implement a needs assessment process?

How could you customize the scope of a needs assessment to make it manageable for you?

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IN A NUTSHELL

Use comprehensive needs assessment process to determine needs

Develop a collaborative action plan to build a strong program

Use program evaluation process to make judgments about program quality

• Have you met your goals?

• How well are you providing services and supports needed by homeless children and youth?

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AND REMEMBER …..

The law applies to ALL LEAs, those with and those without McKinney-Vento subgrants!!

Effective collaboration, cross-program and cross-agency, is the key

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RESOURCES

Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services – A Guide for SEAs, LEAs and Local Schools http://center.serve.org/nche/pr/na_eval.php

McKinney-Vento Data Standards Standards and Indicators Guidebook – http://www.serve.org/nche/ibt/sc_eval.php

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FOR MORE INFORMATION

National Center for Homeless Education www.serve.org/nche

Toll-free Helpline 800-308-2145

John McLaughlin – Federal Coordinator of Homeless Programs

John.McLaughlin@ed.gov

Garriss Hardy & Associates bgh@garrisshardy.com