The 2014 annual Secondary Needs Assessment results have been published. This survey is conducted each year by VASSP and the VDOE and this year fewer than 200 surveys were submitted by principals and assistant principals.
The categories that were marked or written in as needing assistance are listed below:
21% — Special Education in Middle and High Schools
16% — Staff Development
15% —Teacher Evaluation and Observations
14% —School and Special Education Law
13% —Remediation
11% — Time Management
10% — Limited Staff ( not enough teachers and administrators)
Given the responsibilities placed on school administrators coupled with an emphasis on student performance and increased success on SOL assessments, these results may well project levels of concern for instruction by Virginia principals. Administrators fortunately have access to resources from the DOE and VASSP for assistance to understand and put into place strategies for improving instructional success to meet the rigour of the SOL.
The two categories related to special education also may provide input for the DOE that administrator’s thoughts for the identification /education processes for special education students are becoming increasingly more time consuming and technical.
