Millard School District in Omaha, Nebraska began using the DAP to focus on at-risk youth and then quickly expanded to survey all students in grades 7, 9, and 11. We recently interviewed Dr. Kraig Lofquist, Director of Student Services at Millard for a closer look at their experiences with the DAP.
SI: How long has your school district been using the DAP?
We started using the DAP with all students in grades 7, 9, and 11 in 2007. So, we are in our fourth year of using the instrument.
SI: How did the DAP positively affect your school or district?
The DAP has had a significant impact at the student level, building, and district level. The students write goals based on individual data. Buildings use DAP data when writing their “site plans” and the District uses the data for strategic planning purposes.
SI: What changes have you made as a result of the DAP?
The DAP has enabled us to get a more global perspective of each student. The eight categories and related scores show where students are excelling, but it also shows where we can place a focus.
SI: What impact did these changes have?
The changes enable us to develop specific plans to help students.
SI: What have you done to keep the DAP going in your school district?
We are a large school district and training is ongoing. We tell everyone that working with the Developmental Assets is not a destination but a journey where we build better, stronger, more resilient young people.
SI: Have you encountered any challenges? How have you overcome them?
Training(and ongoing training for new staff members) is a “process.” Again, we are a large District, and some schools felt this was “just another assessment.” Understanding the Developmental Assets and the power of the DAP has taken some time with a few folks. Others have run with it from day one.
SI: Any specific success stories you’d like to share?
The DAP has changed conversations between staff members and students. It has also changed conversations between parents and their children. The instrument promotes positive conversations and points us in the direction on how to best work with youth.
