103 Long-Range Needs Assessment

LONG-RANGE NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Long-range needs assessment enables the school district to analyze assessment data, get feedback from the community about its expectations of students, and determines how well students are meeting student learning goals.  The Board shall conduct on-going and in-depth needs assessment, soliciting information from business, labor, industry, higher education and community members, regarding their expectations for adequate student preparation as responsible citizens and successful wage earners.

In conjunction with the in-depth needs assessment of the school district, the Board shall authorize the appointment of a committee, representing administrators, employees, parents, students and community members, to make recommendations and assist the board in determining the priorities of the school district in addition to the basic skills areas of the education program.

Through site-based management and community work sessions, local feedback will be on an on-going basis.  It shall be the responsibility of the superintendent to ensure the school district community is informed of students’ progress on state and locally determined indicators. The superintendent shall report annually to the Board about the means used to keep the community informed.

As a result of the Board and committee's work, the Board shall determine major educational needs and rank them in priority order; develop long-range goals and plans to meet the needs; establish and implement short-range and intermediate-range plans to meet the goals and to attain the desired levels of student performance; evaluate progress toward meeting the goals and maintain a record of progress under the plan that includes reports of student performance and results of school improvement projects; and annually report the school district's progress made under the plan to the committee, community and Iowa Department of Education.

 School districts also need to develop a process for long-range needs assessment.  The process needs to include three items:

• provisions for collecting, analyzing and reporting information derived from local, state and national sources;
• provisions for reviewing information acquired on the following:

• state indicators and other locally determined indicators,
• locally established student learning goals,
• specific data collection required by state and federal programs;

• provisions for collecting and analyzing assessment data on the following:

• state indicators,
• locally determined indicators,
• locally established student learning goals.

 

Approved:     10/14/96                      Reviewed:               7/99                            Revised:    10/01

                                                                                     9/01

                                                                                     4/04

                                                                                    9/08

                                                                                    8/10

                                                                                    3/12

                                                                                   11/19

 

Legal Reference:     Iowa Code 21; 256.7(4); 280.12, .18 (1995).

                                    281 I.A.C. 12.3(3).

                                                                                                                                        

Cross Reference:     101    Educational Philosophy of the School District

                                    200    Legal Status of the Board of Directors

                                    208    Ad Hoc Committees

                                    603.1  Basic Instruction Program

                                    801.1  Buildings and Sites Long-Range Planning

                                    801.2  Buildings and Sites Surveys