International Center for Leadership in Education

Participants Coaches

Needs Assessment

Supporting Documents

The purpose of the Needs Assessment conducted by the International Center is to bring administrators and teachers together as a team to identify the strengths and weaknesses of the school and make decisions on how to bring about needed improvements in the classroom and in the school as a whole. The Needs Assessment is a school-focused process that operates on the belief that improving teaching and learning is a continuous effort that requires open and objective dialogue in a professional and nonthreatening environment. The process incorporates the International Center’s Learning Criteria to Support 21st Century Learners and the Implementation Components of School Excellence.

The Needs Assessment is not an evaluation. It is designed to guide a school’s staff through a journey of self-renewal. Information is gathered through a series of classroom observations, interviews, and surveys, resulting in a report that will be shared with staff, who will review the data and comment on its accuracy. Modifications will be made as necessary. The school and reviewers from the International Center will then use the data in the report to develop suggestions for improvement.

The visit should be organized by the principal and structured as a guided tour of the school’s practices and programs. It should provide opportunities to meet with a variety of school leaders (administrators, faculty, and students) to discuss programs in detail and learn as much as possible about the characteristics and practices of the school.

The major components of the site visit are suggested below, followed by a sample agenda that can be used as a template to plan the visit.

Major Components of the Site Visit

Activity	Description
Initial Interview with Principal and District Representative	Arrival and welcome School coach explains purpose of the Needs Assessment/Initiative and answers any questions. Principal and district representative provide an overview of current school improvement initiatives and key challenges. Review and finalize agenda.
Initial Meeting with Principal and Leadership Team	School coach explains purpose of the Needs Assessment and provides a detailed review of the resource associated with the initiative. School’s Administrative Team provides an overview of education programs, students served, unique features, strengths, and areas of need.
Interviews with Teacher Groups (over the 3 days)	The principal schedules meetings with four or five groups of teachers (groups of 7–10 work well), including lead teachers, grade level/team chairs, teachers from the successful and innovative programs, and teachers from all disciplines. Informal discussions, led by school coach, will focus on the following: Best teaching practices Examples of rigorous and relevant teaching and learning Standards-based curriculum approaches/curriculum alignment Faculty collaboration Professional development Leadership Student expectations Parent/community involvement Greatest strengths of the school Areas for improvement
Interviews with Student Groups (over the 3 days)	The principal schedules three or four meetings with groups of students (groups of 10–15 students of similar ages works well) from every grade level, as well as students enrolled in the most successful programs. Informal discussions, led by school coach, will focus on the following: School strengths Things they would improve How they are academically challenged and supported School components they are most proud of Student aspirations Levels of engagement Personal skill development
Interviews with Parents/Community Members (optional)	The principal schedules a meeting with parents/community members. Informal discussions, led by school coach, will focus on the following: School strengths Things they would improve How students are academically challenged and supported School components they are most proud of Levels of student engagement and personal skill development
Classroom Visits (over the 3 days)	The principal schedules blocks of time for 9–12 classroom visits (20 minutes each) by the school coach to see a variety of teachers in all disciplines. The goal is to assess the following: Classroom environment Level of rigorous and relevant instruction (students applying skills and knowledge to solve real-world problems) Use of effective instructional strategies Levels of student engagement
Final Interview with Principal, Other Administrators, and Teacher Leaders	The visit concludes with a 60–90 minute debriefing session in the late morning of Day 3.

Sample Agenda
Day 1

Approximate Time	Activity
90 Minutes	Initial interview with principal and district representative
60 Minutes	Interview with principal and Leadership Team
80 Minutes	3-4 Classroom visits
30–45 Minutes	Lunch and interview with teacher group
30-45 Minutes	Interview with student group
30-45 Minutes	Interview with student group
45 Minutes	Interview with teacher group
45 Minutes	Debrief with principal at conclusion of Day 1

Day 2

Approximate Time	Activity
60 Minutes	Meeting with principal and Leadership Team
80 Minutes	3-4 classroom visits
30-45 Minutes	Interview with student group
30-45 Minutes	Interview with student group
45 Minutes	Lunch and interview with teacher group
80 Minutes	3-4 Classroom Visits
45 Minutes	Interview with teacher group
45 Minutes	Debrief with principal at conclusion of Day 2
90 Minutes	Optional evening with parent/community group

Day 3

Approximate Times	Activity
45 Minutes	Interview with teacher group
45 Minutes	4 classroom visits (each team member conducts two 20-minute visits)
30–45 Minutes	Interview with student group
90 Minutes	Final interview with principal, other administrators, and Leadership Team