A comprehensive needs assessment collects data to document existing challenges in order to discover needs related to attendance, parental involvement, school climate, leadership, and test achievement. It provides direction for programs by determining priorities through aligning goals, strategies, professional development, and outcomes. The assessment asks individuals connected to education what is needed to close gaps between current status and desired outcomes, considering a range of needs from valid and reliable data involving many individuals to develop goals, action plans, and regularly evaluate strategies.

1. Comprehensive Needs
Assessment
An attempt to assess or measure a
perceived or actual need by collecting
data to document a challenge that
exists

2. Why?
• Discovers challenges to goals related to
attendance, parental involvement, school
climate, leadership, and achievement on
summative tests
• Provides direction for programs and projects
• Allows staff to determine priorities
• Creates cohesion through the alignment of
goals, strategies, professional development, and
desired outcomes
• Enables benchmarking
• Assists with continuous improvement activities

3. How?
• Asking individuals connected with
education what they need to close the gap
between current status and some desired
state
• Comprehensive research project

4. Components
• Considers range of needs
• Variety of sources
• Valid and reliable data
• Involvement of many individuals
• Development of goals and action plans
• Basis for resource allocation
• Regular follow-up and evaluation of plans
and strategies
A Guide for Comprehensive Needs Assessment, Prepared for the Colorado
Department of Education by RMC Research Corporation