The LEA Consolidated Needs Assessment (CNA) is a comprehensive planning tool for LEAs, incorporating a needs assessment and root cause analysis protocol. The CNA is designed to help LEA leadership teams target available funding to address their identified needs (funding the plan rather than planning the funds), reduce duplication and overall reporting burden, facilitate meaningful stakeholder engagement, and accelerate continuous improvement.
Accountability and transparency in education data are important for parents and the community, serving as tools to inform decisions about their students' educational choices. The reports within the CNA are designed to provide this information, enabling concerned individuals to see the results of student learning outcome measurements.
Simultaneously, performance data and personally identifiable student information must be kept safe, private, and compliant with federal and state standards and laws, including FERPA, to maintain student data security and privacy. While the data used by the USBE and Local Education Agencies (LEAs) are comprehensive, the data made available to the public are masked to prevent unintended disclosure of personally identifiable information in summary reports at the school, LEA, or state level.