Origins and Stages of State Assessment

Policy Development and Implementation

 
Project Overview
State Self-Study Tools
State and Regional Policies
Assessment Policy Types and Models
Inventory of Instruments and Measurements
Data Collection and Analysis
Publications and Presentations

 

This page presents different strategies for developing and implementing state assessment policies, using four means of origin and 11 stages. Each of these are defined in the first two tables below. The remaining tables combine them and present suggestions for policymakers at each stage of policy development.

The stages are presented in chronological order but the process of policy development is not linear, as stages might need to be repeated depending on the policy context.

 


Policy Origins

SHEEO Policy Policy enacted by state governing, coordinating, regulatory, or planning board
Statewide Planning Assessment as a component of larger structure for institutional management and coordination
Legislative Statute or Appropriations Statute requiring the use of assessment or support of policy through state appropriations to higher education
System/ Institutional Initiative to achieve goals or respond to external scrutiny

 

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Stages of Development

(Links provide details of each policy stage)

1. Isolate the Problem Decide which needs the policy process will address
2. Consult Widely Seek the perspective of involved affected, and knowledgeable groups
3. Articulate Vision and Strategy Define the purpose, scope and usefulness of policy
4. Gain Support of Education
and Political Leaders
Identify those responsible for development vs. those who will be consulted
5. Educate the Public Share different policy options, their benefits, costs and affects on stakeholders
6. Disseminate Ideas Distribute rationale, guidelines, procedures, findings and outcomes
7. Pilot Testing and Trials Enact targeted and limited pilot programs for testing purposes
8. Examine and Report Results and Findings Formally analyze outcomes
9. Statewide Dialogue Reflect on outcomes and possible revisions to the policy
10. Implement Policy Institute the policy state- or system-wide
11. Evaluate and Review Adjusting and tweaking policy consistent with findings from continuous examination

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Stage: Isolate the Problem
SHEEO Policy

SHEEO concludes that institutional changes are needed and assessment information can be helpful

Decides how assessment can contribute to improvement at the institution

Statewide Planning

Planning process sets institutional/system goals that will use improved data collection to target perceived deficiencies

SHEEO decides how assessment can be incorporated into goal achievement

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Legislature/Staff identifies areas in which more knowledge is needed to evaluate performance

Decides on specific remedies such as accountability, quality, and improvement

System/Institutional

Higher education leaders articulate ways that improved data systems can rectify problems

Develop preliminary assessment plans and models to improve quality of information

 

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Stage: Consult Widely
SHEEO Policy

In conjunction with institutions, explore the causes of previously reported deficiencies

Ask business, civic, and higher education leaders about reasonable expectations regarding assessment enactment and usage

Incorporate ideas into policy goals

Statewide Planning

In conjunction with institutions, explore the causes of previously reported deficiencies

Ask business, civic, and higher education leaders about reasonable expectations regarding assessment enactment and usage

Incorporate ideas into the language of planning goals and implementation steps

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Work with SHEEO to identify the areas in which better assessment data could address performance deficiencies

Meet with business, civic, and higher education leaders about reasonable expectations regarding assessment enactment and usage

Incorporate ideas into statutory language or appropriations provisions

System/Institutional

Work with SHEEO and individual institutions to identify which concerns can be addressed through better assessment data and which are management-related

Meet with business, civic, and higher education leaders about reasonable expectations regarding assessment enactment and usage

Incorporate ideas into plans

 

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Stage: Articulate Vision and Strategy
SHEEO Policy

SHEEO reveals its policy decisions to higher education community, policymakers, and public

Purpose and end-goals of policy are shared

Specifics for implementation are also given, including resource requirements, timelines, roles and responsibilities of various groups, and intermediate steps

Statewide Planning

SHEEO incorporates a clear role for assessment into goals and implementation aspects of strategic plan

Purpose and end-goals of policy are shared

Specifics for implementation are given, including resource requirements, timelines, roles and responsibilities of various groups, and intermediate steps

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Legislature/Staff specify how assessment can be used to collect the information of interest

Purpose and end-goals of policy are shared

Specifics for implementation are also given, including resource requirements, timelines, roles and responsibilities of various groups, and intermediate steps

System/Institutional

System/Institutional leaders present assessment policy initiative to public and policymakers

Clear purpose and plans for utilization of information are outlined

Specifics for implementation are also given, including resource requirements, timelines, roles and responsibilities of various groups, and intermediate steps

 

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Stage: Gain Support of Education and Political Leaders
SHEEO Policy

Share details of plan with institutions

Ascertain the potential contribution of leaders regarding policy development

Define tasks to be achieved and lines and rules for communication

Statewide Planning

Approach leaders by demonstrating how policy achieves state objectives

Ascertain the potential contribution of leaders regarding policy development

Define tasks to be achieved and lines and rules for communication

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Policymakers approach leaders by demonstrating how policy achieves state objectives

Staff articulates how plan addresses institutional concerns

Establish rules and lines of communication

System/Institutional

Institutional leaders demonstrate how policy addresses state concerns for quality and effectiveness

Establish rules and lines of communication

 

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Stage: Educate the Public
SHEEO Policy

Present expected costs and benefits to institutions and the impact on the state

Staff answers concerns about budgets and resource impacts

Statewide Planning

Present expected costs and benefits to institutions and the impact on the state

Staff answers concerns about budgets and resource impacts

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Present expected costs and benefits to institutions and the impact on the state

Staff answers concerns about budgets and resource impacts

System/Institutional

Present expected costs and benefits to individual institutions and departments and articulate the impact on the state

 

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Stage: Disseminate Ideas
SHEEO Policy

Share policy ideas widely with higher education community

Hold frequent or extended dialogues with individual institutions

Be prepared with a plan to counter resistance

Statewide Planning

Share policy ideas widely with higher education community

Hold frequent or extended dialogues with individual institutions

Be prepared with a plan to counter resistance

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Share policy ideas widely with higher education community

Hold frequent or extended dialogues with individual institutions

Be prepared with a plan to counter resistance

System/Institutional

Share policy ideas widely with higher education community

Hold frequent or extended dialogues with individual institutions and departments

Be prepared with a plan to counter resistance

 

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Stage: Pilot Testing and Trials
SHEEO Policy

Identify institutions or aspects of the policy for a limited implementation

Statewide Planning

Phase-in parts of the assessment policy and its requirements over the first few years

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Phase in program requirements, required funds, and the number of goals or indicators

System/Institutional

Phase-in parts of the assessment policy and its requirements over the first two years

 

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Stage: Examine and Report Results and Findings
SHEEO Policy

Study the process of implementation and the policy's outcomes

Incorporate feedback into analysis

Distribute findings

Statewide Planning

Policy or planning team studies policy outcomes

Issue progress report

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Staff/Task force studies policy and reports on success; report should link process to outcomes

System/Institutional

Institutional committee/ task force studies outcomes of policy

Issues progress report

 

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Stage: Statewide Dialogue
SHEEO Policy

Dialogue with institutions, leaders, and stakeholders

Consult widely on the impacts and benefits of the policy

Revisit the implementation and changes necessary to successfully enact the policy statewide

Statewide Planning

Dialogue with institutions, leaders, and stakeholders

Consult widely on the impacts and benefits of the policy

Revisit the implementation and changes necessary to successfully enact the policy statewide

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Dialogue with institutions, leaders, and stakeholders

Consult widely on the impacts and benefits of the policy

Revisit the implementation and changes necessary to successfully enact the policy statewide

System/Institutional

Dialogue with institutions, leaders, and stakeholders

Consult widely on the impacts and benefits of the policy

Revisit the implementation and changes necessary to successfully enact the policy statewide

 

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Stage: Implement Policy
SHEEO Policy

Enact new policy, expand indicators, institute additional funding requirements

Statewide Planning

Enact new policy, expand indicators, institute additional funding requirements

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Enact new policy, expand indicators, institute additional funding requirements

System/Institutional

Enact new policy, expand indicators, institute additional funding requirements

 

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Stage: Evaluate and Review
SHEEO Policy

Establish system for ongoing and periodic review and revision of the policy

Statewide Planning

Establish system for ongoing and periodic review and revision of the policy

Legislative Statute/ Appropriations

Establish system for ongoing and periodic review and revision of the policy

System/Institutional

Establish system for ongoing and periodic review and revision of the policy


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On this page

Policy Development and Implementation

Policy Origins

Stages of Development

Isolate the Problem

Consult Widely


Articulate Vision and Strategy


Gain Support of Education and Political Leaders


Educate the Public


Disseminate Ideas


Pilot Testing and Trials


Examine and Report Results and Findings

Statewide Dialogue

Implement Policy


Evaluate and Review

 

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Stanford Institute for Higher Education Research