This is the Phase I report for a needs assessment and accompanying study sponsored by the Oklahoma State Department of Education which was conducted during the 2010 calendar year. This report seeks to determine the importance of nine essential elements to being classified as a school in need of improvement. 61 schools are involved in this study with approximately half of those schools on improvement status. Data for this phase was collected from surveys that were administered to administrators, teachers, students, and parents in each of the 61 schools. Teacher Survey Results are appended. [For Phase II, see ED539799 and for Phase III, see ED539797.] (Contains 13 figures and 1 technical note.)