This resource prepared by the State Support Network provides guidance for state and local leaders around conducting a need assessment, the first step in the continuous improvement process required by the Every Student Succeeds Act. The document describes research-based components of a needs assessment, including data analysis, stakeholder engagement, and collaborative identification of improvement needs. The resource next describes how to address these elements during implementation, for instance, through planning, collecting and organizing data, interpreting information, and determining priorities for implementation. The guide also describes supports states can provide to support successful implementation at the local level. An appendix includes resources for further study.
