1. Colorado Department of
Education
A Guide For a Comprehensive
Needs Assessment
Southwest Comprehensive Center of West Ed.

2. Needs Assessment
● “An attempt to assess or measure a perceived or actual need by collecting
data to document a challenge that exists (CDE, 1)”.
● No Child Left Behind mandates schools provide a description of need for
programs. Title III (English Language Learners) (CDE, 2)

3. Needs Assessments (CDE, 3)
● Provides Direction for Programs
● Determines Priorities
● Creates Cohesion of Goals and Desired
Outcomes
● Enables Benchmarking and Monitoring of
Implementation
● Assists with Continuous Improvement
Activities

4. Focus, Team & Goals
● Focus on factors that can impact the
achievement of Students (CDe, 4)
○ Test Scores, drop out/Graduation Rates,
attendance
● A Formal Planning team is critical (CDe,
4)
● After Data Analysis, Goals need to be
identified with Action Plans (CDE, 5)

5. Data Analysis (CDE, 13-14)
● Prioritize Needs
● Identify Root Causes
○ 6 Whys
● Summarize Findings
● Make Decisions
● Goal Planning

6. SMART GOALS (CDE, 15)
● Specific
● Measurable
● Attainable
● Realistic
● Timely

7. Comprehensive Plan
● 2 essential Steps (CDE, 15)
○ Measurable Goals
○ Strategies to Meet the Goals
● Success is More Likely when district improvement strategies
are in alignment with district strategies (CDE, 15)

8. Sources
Colorado Department of Education. A Guide for
Comprehensive Needs Assessment: Southwest
Comprehensive Center of West Ed.

9. Questions
● After reading the article, how would a comprehensive needs
assessment be beneficial to addressing the needs of ELLs in
your current district/university?
● The article discussed SMART Goals in association with a
comprehensive needs assessment. On a smaller scale, with an
English Language Learner in mind, develop a SMART Goal for
their Language acquisition. What are some suggestions to
helping this individual meet this goal? (professional
development, curricular/instructional suggestions, technology,
family and community supports)