Criteria for Selling Needs Priorities: The Practitioner’s Perspective

Abstract

A survey of instructional, administrative, and policy level personnel who participated in needs assessment studies in twelve Florida school districts revealed several problems in the use of the discrepancy model in needs assessment. These problems relate to the use of size of discrepancy as a basis for establishing needs priorities and to the setting of priorities without adequate consideration of potential solutions. Alternative criteria and procedures for setting needs priorities are presented.