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"In the Spring, I have counted 136 different kinds of weather inside of 24 hours."
– Mark Twain
Needs Assessment and Data
Needs assessments can be conducted for a variety of reasons and at different levels by the state educational agency (SEA), state agency, local educational agency (LEA) or facility. They can focus on a single area of interest (e.g., transition) or take a broader perspective to identify gaps throughout a system.
If selected for monitoring, the Kentucky Department of Education (KDE) will require evidence to be submitted to show a needs assessment is being conducted annually by the district and facility coordinator to ensure current needs are met. Student data should help inform the needs identification process for the program. Student data should be reviewed a minimum of three times a year (beginning, middle and end) to ensure the educational program needs are being evaluated and to determine any necessary changes.
The completed needs assessment document should be kept on file at the facility and sent to the state agency or LEA, depending on the subpart, to be kept on file there as well. A needs assessment document template is provided under Related Documents in GMAP.
The needs assessments will be submitted to the Kentucky Department of Education with the application through GMAP. There is a needs assessment template on KDE's Title I, Part D webpage if you need a tool to use. For more information, contact your state coordinators: Monica Higgins or Wes Blake.
Program Evaluation
(The information in this article is based on nonregulatory guidance from the Title I, Part D: Neglected, Delinquent and At-Risk Youth; Prevention and Intervention Programs for Children and Youth Who Are Neglected, Delinquent or At-Risk (N or D).)
The Title I, Part D Nonregulatory guidance Q-1 and Q-2 requires that each state agency and school district with a program for youth who are neglected, delinquent or at-risk (under Subparts 1 and 2) must evaluate the program to determine the program’s effect on the ability of participants to do the following:
- Improve and continue educational achievement.
- Earn credits that meet state requirements.
- Transition into a regular program (or other education program) operated by a school district.
- Complete high school (or secondary school equivalency requirements) and obtain employment.
- Participate in post-secondary education and job training.
(ESEA section 1431(a))
Facilities must use multiple measures of student progress. Each program must do the following:
- Complete the annual performance report for KDE
- Use evaluation results to plan and improve programs for participating youth.
(ESEA section 1431(d)).
Facilities should use academic and vocational outcomes from the recent performance report in GMAP (such as course credits earned, GED enrollment, diplomas or GEDs earned, job training program or postsecondary education enrollment, obtained employment, and math and reading assessment data) to evaluate their programs. Program evaluation should inform instruction and the upcoming year’s needs assessment, which will be entered into the new GMAP application this summer.
Title I, Part D programs should be focused on ensuring that youth have the opportunity to meet the same challenging state academic standards as all children. Evaluations should be tied to the same standards and assessments that the school district has in place for all students. During monitoring, KDE will require evidence to be submitted to show that an annual program evaluation is being conducted.
Student Recognition
Congratulations to the winners of the Fourth Annual Statewide Kentucky Educational Collaborative for State Agency Children’s (KECSAC) Student Art Competition! This contest featured student artwork of any medium and winners received a gift card and certificate of recognition. You can see the winning student artwork on the KECSAC website.
Middle School Category
- First Place: A.U., “Shy” – Purchase Youth Village
- Second Place: S.M., “Dragon's Eye” – Knox Appalachian School
- Third Place: R.H., D.J., G.L., T.M., G.W., “Blue, Purple and White Paint Pour” – Ascension Academy
- Honorable Mention: R.C., “Take Your Time” – Purchase Youth Village
- Honorable Mention: S.R., “The Flower” – Frenchburg Success Academy
High School Category
- First Place: J.G., “I See the Moon” – Purchase Youth Village
- Second Place: A.P., “The Fallen Tree” – Otter Creek Academy
- Third Place: C.M., “Eye of the Rose” – Maryhurst Academy
- Honorable Mention: C.M., “The Magical Forest” – Knox Appalachian School
- Honorable Mention: E.S., “Peace” – Purchase Youth Village
- Honorable Mention: S.N., “Nature” – Otter Creek Academy
Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 Reminders
- Ensure funds have been spent. All Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 funds from 313K for FY24 Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 (State Agency/ Individual Institution) application grant should be encumbered by June 30, 2026. The period of the award is July 1, 2023- June 30, 2026, based on the revised award notification.
- The grant application contains several components. Embedded within the application are the budget section, and under the Related Documents section is an area for the coordinators to upload their needs assessment. The needs assessment document provides an analysis of strengths and areas to improve for the academic year. Ensure all these elements are aligned within the GMAP application.
- Changes to the application may be addressed at any time throughout the year. Application revisions normally consist of budget amendment changes. Work with your district’s finance officer to establish a plan to coordinate any new Title I, Part D (State Agency) application changes.
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