Meet state requirements with the most research-validated school improvement recommendations in the education industry, backed by peer-reviewed evidence.
A School Comprehensive Needs Assessment Proven to Reveal Root Causes
- Identify root causes impacting student achievement, not just surface-level gaps
- Receive a highly detailed, personalized report with clear next steps
- Fulfill state requirements with expert guidance and complete documentation
- Build a foundation for sustained improvement using measurable data
Talk with a Needs Assessment Expert
Schedule a conversation with Stephanie Terrell, Ed.S., Executive Director of School Transformation, who brings more than 30 years of experience as a former principal and national turnaround leader.
Trusted by Schools, Districts, and State Departments
Download the School Improvement Diagnostic
This short diagnostic helps leaders evaluate whether their current process is uncovering the root causes impacting student achievement.
Why Leaders Choose Our School Comprehensive Needs Assessment
An effective educational needs assessment doesn’t just collect data—it helps leaders make better decisions.
- Research-Validated Insights
Your assessment incorporates the Rigor Appraisal, a peer-reviewed tool linked to student achievement, attendance, behavior, and school climate (see SAGE Open, 2024).
- Proven Framework
Your results are grounded in the research-based School Instructional Maturity Model (SIMM), field-proven with over a decade of use. This framework reveals opportunities to rapidly improve instructional systems and unlock higher student achievement. - Practitioner-Led
Every assessment is conducted by former school and district leaders who have sat in your seat, understand the realities of implementation, and provide practical guidance based on their extensive experience. - Compliance Support
You’ll receive complete documentation, expert support, and a streamlined process for meeting state requirements—along with clear, actionable next steps.
ESSA Tier 3 (Promising Evidence)
Instructional Empowerment’s research is conducted using federal evidence standards, and this solution meets ESSA Tier 3 (Promising Evidence) criteria. The Applied Research Center is led by Lindsey Devers Basileo, Ph.D., a U.S. Department of Education What Works Clearinghouse certified reviewer.
Rigor Appraisal data is statistically linked to measurable student outcomes across multiple indicators (see SAGE Open, 2024).
SIMM maps your school’s systems across six instructional pillars, providing clear next steps for improvement.
State-Approved Partner
Instructional Empowerment has already been approved or is eligible to provide school improvement services in most states. Explore current state partnership and approval information.
What to Expect from Your School Comprehensive Needs Assessment
Our experts will guide you through a structured, research-informed process designed to reveal root causes, align to state requirements, and provide clear direction for improvement.
1. In-Depth, On-Site Assessment
Our team visits your campus to observe teaching and learning, conduct stakeholder interviews, and analyze schoolwide systems using research-based tools including the Rigor Appraisal.
2. Findings and Recommendations
You receive a detailed report that identifies root causes, maps your school’s systems using the School Instructional Maturity Model (SIMM), and provides actionable recommendations aligned to state requirements and school improvement priorities.
3. Expert Debrief and Next Steps
We walk through your findings with your leadership team, answer questions, share personalized guidance for state submission, and suggest practical next steps for school improvement.
Turning Needs Assessment Findings into Action
The value of a School Comprehensive Needs Assessment comes from what leaders do with the findings. Many schools continue working with Instructional Empowerment to implement recommendations through our school turnaround partnerships.
Whether you choose to implement independently or partner with us, you will leave the needs assessment process with a clear path forward.
What Leaders Are Saying About Our Comprehensive Needs Assessments
A Clearer Path Forward
“In previous years, the SCNA process was a little bit like going through the motions. When we worked with Instructional Empowerment, the amount of clarity it brought really drove our purpose and opened up a big window for us to grow.“
Cassandra Wilsey
Principal, Bullhead City School District #15, AZ
Linked to Student Outcomes
“What we’re seeing is that there is a direct correlation between the Rigor Appraisal score and what we see in terms of student achievement. That gives us confidence in the tool.”
Troy Knoderer
Chief Academic Officer, MSD Lawrence Township, IN
Meeting Schools Where They Are
“The most powerful attribute of the partnership has been meeting our schools where they are and assessing what tools we can use to help support them based on their needs.“
Brandon C. White, Ph.D.
Superintendent, Harvard Community Unit School District 50, IL
Unbiased Perspective
“The SCNA was the unbiased, honest reality check that we needed to ground our work moving forward. The action steps from the SCNA were clear and rooted in things that would drive student outcomes.“
Aaron Ford
Principal, Colorado Springs School District 11, CO
Talk with an Expert About Your School Comprehensive Needs Assessment
Stephanie Terrell, Ed.S., Executive Director of School Transformation, brings more than 30 years of experience as a former principal and national turnaround leader. Schedule time to ask questions, walk through our needs assessment process, and see sample areas where we make recommendations.
