NRS Tips: Desk Monitoring

Desk monitoring is an effective and efficient way to assist states in meeting their monitoring needs. It provides an approach to reviewing and tracking program performance by using quantitative data that serves as a supplement to on-site monitoring. Local programs provide data regularly (e.g., monthly, quarterly) to the state office where state staff can review them to guide program review activities, inform technical assistance plans, and promote program improvement. Desk monitoring relies primarily on data that programs already collect and report. It is inexpensive to implement and, once established, requires little additional burden to local programs. Based on research and ideas from state and local program staff, the NRS project team created a list of desk monitoring tips.