The Literacy Program Evaluation Tool



	Step 3: Conduct a Needs Assessment Purpose: To identify what information you need to make instructional and/or curricular decisions that will improve the literacy program Actions: 1. Determine what individuals and groups in the school make literacy decisions. Questions to consider: Who makes literacy decisions in your school? Administrators? Teachers? Reading specialists? Parents? Students? Others? What types of decisions does each group make? 2. Determine what information individuals/groups need about instructional practice and curriculum. Questions to consider: What information and processes do each group of decisionmakers already use? What information does each group need to make sound instructional or curricular decisions? 3. Determine what information individuals/groups need about noninstructional factors that affect the success of the literacy program. Questions to consider: What information is known about the students': Cultural backgrounds Use of English as a second language Socioeconomic status Special needs What other noninstructional factors may affect the success of the literacy program in your school? What information do you have? What information do you need? 4. Review the list of information used to make literacy program decisions. Determine in what areas you need more information. Questions to consider: What information are individuals/groups using well? In what ways could individuals/groups use available information better? What information needs have you discovered? In other words, what information should the committee monitor and collect in the literacy program? Outcome: By the end of this step, the literacy committee should have identified what available information is necessary for making professional decisions and determined if this information is currently being used. In the end, the committee will know what issues to monitor and evaluate. Tools and Resources: Needs Assessment Questions Contact Us Copyright © North Central Regional Educational Laboratory. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer and copyright information.