Beth Garriss Hardy, Ph.D. Garriss Hardy & Associates Consultant, US Department of Education National Center for Homeless Education (NCHE) C ONDUCTING A C OMPREHENSIVE N EEDS A SSESSMENT IN YOUR LEA

Slide 2 T ODAY ’ S G OALS  Basic components of comprehensive needs assessment process  Sample tools available  Importance of collaboration in identifying resources and support

Slide 3 K EEP IN M IND  The law applies to ALL students  All LEAs – those with and those without McKinney-Vento subgrants

Slide 4 N EEDS A SSESSMENT W HY ?  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

Slide 5 W HY, CONT ’ D  Reinforces collective responsibility  Creates a foundation for collaboration  Helps identify available resources  Provides a basis for the Title I-A homeless set-aside amount

Slide 6 T HE T ITLE I-A S ET -A SIDE : T HE B ASICS  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

Slide 7 N EW T OOL A VAILABLE Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services – A Guide for SEAs, LEAs, and Local Schools Available on the NCHE Website

Slide 8 G UIDE B ASED ON L AW  This new Guide is predicated on  The Law: McKinney-Vento and Title I  Standards and Indicators  Federal monitoring indicators

Slide 9 P ART I: N EEDS A SSESSMENT Narrative - describes process Shared responsibility On-going process Steps for planning Developing an action plan

Slide 10 G UIDING Q UESTIONS Guiding Questions – 8 categories Awareness Policy/Procedures Identification, Enrollment, Access Student Success Collaboration – Internal Collaboration – External Resources/Capacity Charter Schools

Slide 11  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? F INDING THE R IGHT Q UESTIONS

Slide 12 S UMMARY W ORKSHEET Summary sheet helps to: Identify most important challenges Identify area in which further data/information is needed Decide what further action is needed

Slide 13 A CTION P LANNING 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

Slide 14 M AKING IT M ANAGEABLE  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?

Slide 15 M AKING IT M ANAGEABLE, 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

Slide 16  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?

Slide 17 I N A N UTSHELL  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?

Slide 18 A ND R EMEMBER …..  The law applies to ALL LEAs, those with and those without McKinney-Vento subgrants!!  Effective collaboration, cross-program and cross-agency, is the key

Slide 19 R ESOURCES  Educating Homeless Children and Youth: Conducting Needs Assessments and Evaluating Services – A Guide for SEAs, LEAs and Local Schools  McKinney-Vento Data Standards Standards and Indicators Guidebook –

Slide 20 F OR M ORE I NFORMATION  National Center for Homeless Education   Toll-free Helpline  John McLaughlin – Federal Coordinator of Homeless Programs   Garriss Hardy & Associates 