What is the first step a school counselor and administrators should take when developing a testing program?

Determining the needs is the foundational step in developing a testing program. This involves assessing both the academic and emotional needs of the students in order to ensure that the testing program aligns with their goals and requirements. By understanding what students need, counselors and administrators can tailor the assessments to be relevant and meaningful, which helps to guide decisions on what kinds of assessments are necessary, and how they should be structured.

Identifying funding sources, selecting assessment tools, and creating a timeline are all significant steps that come after the needs assessment. Without first identifying the needs, any funding obtained might not be directed towards the most pressing issues, the assessment tools selected may not be the most effective or appropriate, and the timeline could be misaligned with the actual requirements of the program. Therefore, starting with a thorough needs assessment ensures that all subsequent steps are more focused and effective in meeting the goals of the testing program.