PA
STUDENT LEARNING OBJECTIVES
(SLO)
PROCESS:
A TRAINING FOR ADMINISTRATORS
Goals and Objectives
◦ Goal:
◦ Provide school leaders
guidance and procedural
suggestions for the
implementation of student
learning objectives (SLOs) as
part of PDE’s Educator
Effectiveness System.
◦ Objectives:
1.Orient school leaders to PDE’s SLO
process.
2.Identify roles and responsibilities
needed to implement SLOs.
3.Review tasks and review suggested
procedures for each phase (Design,
Build, & Review).
Pie Chart w/PVAAS
3
4
PDE Teacher Effectiveness Final Rating
Form
◦ How will I calculate my final Teacher Effectiveness Rating? How will
SLOs affect my final rating score?
◦ Use the Excel tool on the PDE website at:
◦ http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt/community/educato
r_effectiveness_project/20903
Student Learning Objectives (SLOs)
Orientation
SLO Definition
◦ A process to document a measure of educator
effectiveness based on student achievement of content
standards. SLOs are a part of Pennsylvania’s multiplemeasure, comprehensive system of Educator
Effectiveness authorized by Act 82 (HB 1901).
Every teacher designs an SLO
Math
History
Physics
Physical
Education
Chemistry
Kindergarten
Special
Ed
Journalism
14
Should You Write an SLO?
The SLO in PA is written to a specific teacher and a
specific class/course/content area for which that teacher
provides instruction.
To determine whether you are a teaching professional, you
must be able to answer yes to the following two questions:
1. Are you working under your instructional
certification?
2. Do you provide direct instruction to students in a
particular subject?
Working Together to Create an SLO
◦
Collaborative development of an SLO is
encouraged (e.g., similar content area or grade
level teachers, interdisciplinary groups of
educators)
◦ Caution: All educators must have their own copy of the
SLO. Educators must measure the performance
indicators against only the students assigned to them.
Check for understanding….
Time for Table Talk about:
How is the SLO used?
Who writes an SLO?
What does an SLO measure?
SLO Template 10.0
◦ A tool used to identify goals,
indicators, and performance
measures for use in the
greater Teacher
Effectiveness System
◦ Must use this template
unless your submit your own
tool for approval through
PDE
What is a Performance Measure?
◦ The assessment
◦ Name
◦ Purpose
◦ Type
◦ Metric
◦ Administration
◦ Scoring details
◦ reporting
SLO Process Components
The SLO process contains three (3) action
components:
1. Design (ing): thinking, conceptualizing,
organizing, discussing, researching
2. Build (ing): selecting, developing, sharing,
completing
3. Review (ing): refining, checking, updating,
editing, testing, finalizing
SLO Template Steps:
Teacher
1.ClassroomContext
1a.Name
1b.School
1c.District
1d.Class/
CourseTitle
1e.Grade
Level
1f.Total#of
Students
1g.Typical
ClassSize
1h.Class
Frequency
1i.Typical
ClassDuration
2.SLOGoal
2a.GoalStatement
2b.PAStandards
2c.Rationale
Section 1: Classroom Context
◦ General Description
•Contains demographic information about the educational setting
•Articulates the course, grade(s), and students the SLO is based on
•Provides class size, frequency, and duration data
Section 2: Goal Statement
◦ What is a goal statement?
◦ Narrative articulating the “big idea” upon which the SLO is based
◦ Central to the content area
◦ Foundational concept for later subjects/courses
◦ Typically addresses what, how and why
◦ This section also includes PA standards associated with the goal and articulates a
rationale for the Goal Statement
17
Big Idea
In Pennsylvania, there is a location that
we find our “big ideas” for curriculum
www.pdesas.org
• Curriculum
Frameworks Tab
• At bottom of the page
• Select a subject
area
• Select grade level
SLO Template Steps:
Teacher
3.PerformanceIndicators(PI)
3a.PITargets:
AllStudentGroup
PITarget#1
PITarget#2
PITarget#3
PITarget#4
PITarget#5
3b.PITargets:
SubsetStudentGroup
(optional)
PITarget#1
PITarget#2
PITarget#3
PITarget#4
PITarget#5
3c.PILinked
(optional)
3d.PIWeighting
(optional)
What is a Performance Indicator?
◦ The performance indicator articulates targets for Performance Measure
◦ A PI describes an individual student performance expectation
◦ This section may include a focused student group (Optional)
◦ Affords teachers the opportunity to link and/or weigh indicators
(Optional)
SLOTemplateSteps:
Teacher
4.PerformanceMeasures(PM)
4a.Name
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4c.
Purpose
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4e.
Administration
Frequency
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4g.Resources/
Equipment
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4i.
Administration
&
ScoringPersonn
el
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4b.Type
____District-designedMeasuresand
Examinations
____NationallyRecognizedStandardizedTests
____IndustryCertificationExaminations
____StudentProjects
____StudentPortfolios
____Other:______________________________
4d.Metric
Growth(changeinstudentperformanceacross
twoormorepointsintime)
Mastery(attainmentofadefinedlevelof
achievement)
GrowthandMastery
4f.Adaptations/
Accommodation
s
IEP
ELL
4h.ScoringTools
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
4j.Performance
Reporting
PM#1
PM#2
PM#3
PM#4
PM#5
GiftedIEP
Other
What is a Performance Measure?
◦ Identifies all performance measures, including name, purpose, type, and metric
◦ Articulates the administration and scoring details, including the reporting
◦ PMs must be aligned to targeted content standards
◦ Consider what assessments you are currently using in your classroom and if they
will work in your SLO….also consider if you will need to design a new
assessment…
SLO Process Design
Example
Goals/
Standards
Performance
Indicator
Performance
Measures
Assessment
#1a
Indicator #1
SLO Goal
Indicator #2
Assessment
#1b
Assessment
#2
SLO Template Steps:
Teacher
5.TeacherExpectations
5a.Level
Failing
0%to___%of
studentswillmeetthe
PItargets.
NeedsImprovement
___%to___%of
studentswillmeetthe
PItargets.
Proficient
___%to___%of
studentswillmeetthePI
targets.
Distinguished
___%to100%of
studentswillmeetthePI
targets.
Teacher Signature _________________________Date______ Evaluator Signature _____________________Date______
Notes/Explanation
Distinguished (3)
5b. Elective
Rating
Proficient (2)
Needs Improvement (1)
Failing (0)
.
Teacher Signature _________________________Date______ Evaluator Signature _____________________Date______
Teacher Expectations
This section selects the overall SLO rating for the teacher….
Below is an example only: these scores should reflect a collaboration
between the teacher and the administrator.
◦ Failing: 0% - 69%
◦ Needs Improvement: 70% - 84%
◦ Proficient: 85% - 94%
◦ Distinguished: 95% - 100%
How do I total a teacher’s final score?
Check for learning….
Time for Table Talk about:
In what ways do the elements of the SLO Template interact with each other??
What questions, if any, do you have regarding the components of the SLO
process and template?
Key Points for School Leaders
◦The SLO Process facilitates
a conversation about
expectation between
educators (principals and
teachers)
School Leader Roles and Responsibilities: Establish a Timeline
Example of a SLO Timeframe: Typical School Year
◦ July through September – Teachers
Design, Build, and Review the SLO;
meet to review the SLO and sign
◦ October through February –
Teachers Implement the SLO; meet
mid-year to touch base
◦ March through June – Principal and
Teacher Review Performance;
teachers brings data to end-of-year
meeting
Generic Process Steps for a School Leader
1. Establish SLO template
completion timeline at
beginning of year
2. Review complete template
3. Conduct review meeting with
teacher
4. Agree on any revisions; submit
materials
5. Establish “mid-cycle” spot
review
6. End-of-Year review with
supporting data
SLO Phases - Roles and Responsibilities
◦ DESIGN Roles & Responsibilities
◦ Educators: Designers that identify
content standards and students
◦ Leaders: Facilitators that identify schoolwide needs and timeline for submission
◦ BUILD Roles & Responsibilities
◦ Educators: Developers that identify
performance measures and expectations
within the SLO Process Template
◦ Leaders: Coaches that clarify and guide
SLO template completion
◦ REVIEW Roles & Responsibilities
◦ Educators: Checkers that verify the SLO
is complete and comprehensive
◦ Leaders: Reviewers that validate
expectations and ensure coherency
Design: School Leader Tasks
1.Establish timeline and expectations for SLOs
2.Identify SLO training and other resources
3.Identify any school-wide needs that can be supported by the SLO process
4.Promulgate achievement data from prior year(s)
Building: School Leader Tasks
1.Clarify expectations for SLOs
2.Provide additional SLO training and other resources
3.Screen draft material prior to conferencing with educator
4.Designate school-based, subject matter expert (SMEs) to support development
5.Coordinate district and IU professional development assets
Review: School Leader Tasks
1. Conduct preliminary review (screen) proposed SLO
2. Implement conference with educator:
a)Develop “triage” from screening materials
b)Align time allocation given preliminary review
c)Provide “key points of discussion” prior to conference
3. Discuss proposed SLO and applicable performance measures
4. Identify any corrections, refinements, etc.
5. Sign form and establish follow-up timeline
Procedural Conference
◦ The SLO process facilitates a
conversation about expectation
between educators and school
leaders
Procedural Discussion Points: Fall
◦ Goals - Standards
◦ Measures
What is the subject/content focus?
Why are they considered high quality
measures?
Who does it encompass?
How can it improve instruction/practice?
◦ Indicators
What are indicators of success?
How are they being measured?
Which students are they based upon?
Who administers and scores the
measures?
What types of data are produced?
Procedural Discussion Points: Winter
◦ Goals and Standards
◦ Measures
•How has the instruction supported the
subject/content focus?
•Which measures have been administered so far?
•Which student groups are making progress or
struggling?
•What are the data telling us about student
growth and/or mastery?
•What instruction/practice adaptations will be
need in the spring?
◦ Indicators
• Are indicators of success still applicable?
• How well are the indicators working?
• Which indicators are producing data about
student performance?
•Are additional measures necessary at this time?
Procedural Discussion Points: Springo Goals and Standards
• To what degree was the “big idea” mastered by
students?
• Which content standards will need additional
instruction?
• How can the standards be taught more effectively?
o Indicators
• Which indicators were established too high or too
low?
• What did the indicators tell you about student
performances?
• Which student groups underperformed on selected
indicators?
o Measures
•Which measures should be discontinued or need
significant revisions?
•To what degree did student performances meet
your expectations?
•What data points had the most influence on your
overall rating?
Procedural Areas of Caution
1.The SLO is based upon small numbers of students/data points.
2.Goals and indicators are “loosely” linked to targeted standards.
3.Indicators are vague without specific performance criteria.
4.Growth and/or mastery is not clearly defined.
5.Performance measures are poorly designed, lack rigor, and/or not designed to
measure PA standards.
6.Overall achievement expectations are unattainable
SLO Process
Online
Available
Templates
Available
Rubrics
My History
Resources
Research In Action
SLO Online Resources
SAS is the PDE website containing…
• the Pennsylvania content standards and other helpful PDE
developed material
• a downloadable SLO training “packet”, including SLO Models
• links to Research in Action’s training platform, Homeroom
• Learning Communities: SAS Institute 2013 and SLO communities
Homeroom is RIA’s web-based learning platform that contains…
• on-line training materials, including the SLO Process Template
10.0
• downloadable SLO training files, except the videos
• links to SAS portal
SLO Resources in Your Folders
◦ SLO Template 10.0
◦ SLO Help Desk reference
◦ SLO Final Scoring Samples
◦ School Leader Discussion Questions: SLO Considerations for Principals and School Leaders
◦ School Leader SLO Checklist
◦ SLO Quick Start Guide for School Leaders
◦ Guiding Questions for School Leader Discussions to ask regarding the SLO to Push Toward
Distinguished
◦ ****SLO Narrated PowerPoint Overview Resources
School Leader Discussion Questions…
◦ In a small group, discuss the
questions listed on the SLO
Considerations for Principals and
School Leaders: School Leader
Discussion Questions in your
folder. Be prepared to share your
small group discussions with the
entire group!
Table Talk:
Share thoughts about
this process and discuss
any questions you may
still have…
For additional SLO questions, please contact:
Local IU1 Contacts
State Contacts
◦ JoBeth McKee – IU1 Curriculum Specialist,
jobeth.mckee@iu1.org, 724-938-3241 ext. 267
◦ Mr. David Deitz, PDE POC,
oddeitz@comcast.net
◦ Jenny Lent – IU1 Curriculum Specialist,
jenny.lent@iu1.org, 724-938-3241 ext. 268
◦ Dr. JP Beaudoin, The RIA Group POC,
jbeaudoin@riagroup2013.com
◦ Marissa Sacco – IU1 TAC (Literacy and Inclusive
Practices), marissa.sacco@iu1.org, 724-938-3241
ext. 713
◦ Wendy Tiano – IU1 TAC (Reading and RtII),
wendy.tiano@iu1.org, 724-938-3241 ext. 717