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DESSA 2 Quick Start Guide for Program Administrators & Site Leaders

Overview

This DESSA Implementation Checklist for Program Administrators and Site Leaders can be used to plan, launch, and improve your DESSA implementation. Complete each phase before moving to the next, and document decisions, owners, and dates in your district implementation plan.

Optional: If you’re interested in a paper copy of this checklist, please copy and paste the below into a Word doc.

Table of Contents

  1. Plan your implementation
  2. Prepare staff communication and training
  3. Confirm system readiness
  4. Confirm staff readiness
  5. Manage the rating window
  6. Review and use DESSA data
  7. Support and improve implementation
  8. Additional resources and support

1. Plan your implementation

 Define the assessment scope

 ☐ Identify the schools or sites participating.

 ☐ Identify the grade levels, teachers, and students included.

 ☐ Decide who will complete each rating.

    • For DESSA 2: identify which teachers will rate which students.
    • For Student Self-Report (SSR): identify which students will complete self-ratings and which staff will support them.

 ☐ Identify Site Leaders and define their responsibilities.

 ☐ Set milestone dates:

    • Training dates
    • Rating window dates
    • Data review dates

 ☐ Add key dates to district and school calendars.

💡Tip! Use a consistent approach across schools and grade levels when possible. Document any  site-specific adjustments.

Plan for using the data  

 ☐ Who will review DESSA data and when?

 ☐ How will results be shared with staff and other stakeholders?

 ☐ How will results inform instruction, student support, and progress monitoring?

2. Prepare staff communication and training  

 ☐ Choose the training format: live webinar, self-paced course, or district-facilitated training.
    • For live trainings (recommended option):
      • Identify training dates for:
        • Part 1 (before 1st rating window): Getting Started with the DESSA 
        • Part 2 (after 1st rating window): Analyzing DESSA data 
        • Part 3 (after 2+ rating windows): Progress Monitoring and Measuring Impact 

 ☐ Explain to staff what the DESSA is, why the district is using it, and how it connects to district goals. 

 ☐ Communicate to staff who will complete ratings, monitor completion, review data, and act on results.

 ☐  Share where staff can find the assessment calendar, role expectations, and DESSA resources.

 ☐ Consider options for sharing about the DESSA with other stakeholders, including parents and guardians.

 Communication readiness check  

 ✅  Staff can explain the purpose of DESSA and how it supports explicit skill instruction and growth.

 ✅  Staff can find rating dates on the assessment calendar.

 ✅  Staff can describe the expectations for their role in the DESSA implementation.

 3. Confirm system readiness  

 ☐ Complete rostering using one of these methods:

 ☐ Add Site Leaders individually or in bulk.

 ☐ Schedule the rating windows through Yearly Rating Setup.

 ☐ Enable automatic rating-window reminder emails.

 ☐ Use Assignment Review to review rater assignments and check for any students without an assigned rater

☐ Send invitations to Site Leaders and educators.

 System readiness check  

 ✅  The Sites page lists all expected sites.

 ✅  The Students page shows the expected number of students.

 ✅  The Staff page shows the expected staff, and all staff are active.

 ✅  The Yearly Setup page shows the correct rating dates.

 ✅  The Assignment Review page shows that 100% of applicable students are assigned to a rater.

 4. Confirm staff readiness  

 ☐ Ensure staff complete the required training.

 ☐ Schedule dedicated time for teachers and students to complete ratings.

 ☐ Re-share implementation goals, timelines, and role expectations.

 People readiness check  

 ✅  Staff can describe how DESSA data will be used to support student outcomes.

 ✅  Staff can explain their role and responsibilities.

 ✅  Staff can explain what DESSA is and how to complete a rating.

 ✅  Raters (and students if applicable) have dedicated time and a location to complete ratings.

 5. Manage the rating window  

 ☐ Teachers and students complete their ratings.

 ☐ Site Leaders monitor completion using the Rating Completion Report.

 ☐ Follow up with staff or students who have not completed their ratings.

 Rating window check  

 ✅ Site Leaders know how to access and use the Rating Completion Report.

 ✅ Each site reaches at least 90% rating completion.

 6. Review and use DESSA data  

 ☐ Staff participate in previously scheduled trainings focused on analyzing DESSA data.

 ☐ Re-share the goals, timelines, and expectations for data review.

 ☐ Facilitate data review meetings.

 ☐ Record decisions, action items, owners, and deadlines.

 Data review check  

 ✅  Staff can access the DESSA results under the Reports tab.

 ✅  Data review notes document the data reviewed, decisions made, action items, and owners.

 7. Support and improve implementation  

 ☐ Review implementation data and gather feedback about the first rating window.

 ☐ Share trends and decisions according to your implementation/communication plan.

 ☐ Identify areas to improve implementation.

 ☐ Assign an owner and deadline for each improvement action.

 ☐ Document improvement actions in your district implementation plan.

                         Additional resources and support  

                        For frequently asked questions and additional resources, review the DESSA x Move This World Support Portal and the On-Demand Video Library.

                        If you need additional assistance, Submit a request to contact the Support team.