Pennsylvania’s
Student Learning
Objectives (SLOs)
Process
1
 To know what Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are
 To know how SLOs fit into the larger picture of Educator
Effectiveness
 To explore the SLO Template
 To know the three components in developing SLOs
(Design, Build, and Review)
 To know where you can find the tools to develop your SLOs
 To give you time to begin brainstorming/drafting your SLO
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



Missy Bream
Charley Dittrich
Laura Davenport
Rusty McCollum
Justin Tate
Danny Leiphart
Greg Zirkle
3

SLO Overview/Training

Remain in Auditorium

Move to work groups with pilot team
members

Collaborate with group/work independently
4
What is the role of
Student Learning Objectives
in Pennsylvania’s Teacher
Evaluation System?
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35%
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What is a
Student Learning Objective?
Student Learning Objective
PDE’s Definition: A process to
document a measure of educator
effectiveness based on student
achievement of content standards.
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SLO Concepts
Student achievement can be
measured in ways that reflect
authentic learning of content
standards.
Educator effectiveness can be
measured through the use of
student achievement.
Many factors can influence the size of an SLO,
Time Frame
Course Content
Important Learning Needs
but the process
remains the same.
WHAT IT IS SUPPOSED TO BE:
WHAT IT IS NOT SUPPOSED TO BE:
More paperwork for
• More
paperwork
teachers
thatforhas no
teachers that has no
meaning or purpose
meaning or purpose
 More
testing
for
students

• A format to inform strong
instructional practice and
strong student
achievement
• A way to measure teacher
effectiveness based on
student achievement
• An opportunity for teachers
to define, describe and
present data on student
achievement in the content
area that they teach
• More testing for students
A weak substitute for
PVAAS
or
other
• Astandardized
weak substitute for
testing
PVAAS
data or other

standardized testing data
I will not be
afraid.
I will not be
frustrated.
I will not be
angry.
I will not be
crabby.
We’ve got this!!
SLO Process Components
DESIGN
• Thinking about what content standards
to measure
• Organizing standards and measures
• Discussing with colleagues collective
goals
• Researching what is needed for a high
quality SLO
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SLO Process Components
BUILD
•
•
•
•
Selecting the performance measure(s)
Developing targets and expectations
Completing the template
Sharing the draft materials with other
colleagues
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SLO Process Components
REVIEW
• Checking the drafted SLO (including the
performance measures for quality)
• Refining measures and targets
• Editing text and preparing discussion
points/highlights for principal
• Finalizing materials
• Updating completed SLOs with performance
data
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Student Learning Objective
(SLO)
Template
SLO Template Criteria
1. Goals are based upon the “big ideas” within the content
standards.
2. Performance indicators are specific, measureable,
attainable, and realistic.
3. Performance measures should be valid, reliable, and
rigorous assessments.
4. Data should be collected, organized, and reported in a
consistent manner.
5. Teacher expectations of student achievement should be
demanding.
The SLO process facilitates a
conversation about
expectations between
educators (principals and
teachers, teachers and
teachers)
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
1. Classroom Context
1a. Name
1b. School
1c. District
1d. Class/
Course Title
1e. Grade
Level
1f. Total # of
Students
1g. Typical
Class Size
1h. Class
Frequency
1i. Typical
Class Duration
2. SLO Goal
2a. Goal Statement
2b. PA Standards
2c. Rationale
Spanish 1
Students will be able demonstrate
effective communication in the target
language by speaking and listening,
writing, and reading.
8th Grade Art
Students will demonstrate the ability to
manipulate visual art materials and tools to
create works based on the ideas of other
artists and to evaluate the processes and
products of themselves and other artists.
Grade 5 Library
Students will demonstrate the ability to
use online D.P.S. databases and search
engines, Britannica Elementary, Culture
Grams, and Nettrekker toward support real
world experiences and determining which
is the best source for specific information.
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
1. Classroom Context
1a. Name
1b. School
1c. District
1d. Class/
Course Title
1e. Grade
Level
1f. Total # of
Students
1g. Typical
Class Size
1h. Class
Frequency
1i. Typical
Class Duration
2. SLO Goal
2a. Goal Statement
2b. PA Standards
2c. Rationale
Targeted content standards
used in developing the SLO.
Arts and
Humanities:
9.1, 9.2, 9.3, 9.4
http://pdesas.org/
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
1. Classroom Context
1a. Name
1b. School
1c. District
1d. Class/
Course Title
1e. Grade
Level
1f. Total # of
Students
1g. Typical
Class Size
1h. Class
Frequency
1i. Typical
Class Duration
2. SLO Goal
2a. Goal Statement
2b. PA Standards
2c. Rationale
Explains why the SLO is important
and how students will demonstrate
learning of the standards through
this objective..
Grade 8 Art:
Developing the ability to manipulate
visual art materials and tools are
important to the artistic creation
process, as is the ability to evaluate the
process and product created by oneself
and others.
Child Development (FCS)
Understanding how children grow and
develop will prepare individuals and
families to meet challenges associated
with raising children.
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
3. Performance Indicators (PI)

PI Target #1

PI Target #2

PI Target #1

PI Target #2
3a. PI Targets:
All Student Group
3b. PI Targets:
Subset Student Group
(optional)
3c. PI Linked
(optional)
3d. PI Weighting
(optional)
Describes individual student
performance expectation
3a.
What performance measure(s) –
tests, assessments– will be used to
measure student achievement of
the standards, and what’s the
expected student achievement
level based on the scoring system
for those measures?
3b.
What’s the expected achievement
level for unique populations? (IEP,
students who did not do well on a
pre-test, etc.)
Performance Indicator
Statement
HS Choral
Individual Vocal Assessment Task
Students will achieve proficient or
advanced levels in 6 out of 8 criteria of
the second scoring rubric.
5th Grade ELA
DRA text gradient chart
Students will demonstrate one year of
reading growth
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
4. Performance Measures (PM)

PM #1
4a. Name
4c.
Purpose
4b. Type

PM #2

PM #1
4d. Metric

4e.
Administration
Frequency
4g. Resources/
Equipment
PM #2

PM #1

PM #2

PM #1
4f. Adaptations/
Accommodations
____District-designed Measures and
____
Examinations
____Nationally Recognized Standardized Tests
____Industry Certification Examinations
____Student Projects
____Student Portfolios
____ Other:______________________________
 Growth (change in student performance
across two or more points in time)

Mastery (attainment of a defined level of
achievement)
 Growth and Mastery

IEP
 Gifted IEP

ELL
 Other

PM #1

PM #2

PM #1

PM #2
4h. Scoring Tools

PM #2
4i.

Administration &
Scoring Personnel 
PM #1
PM #2
4j. Performance
Reporting
SLO Template Steps: Teacher
5. Teacher Expectations
5a. Level
Failing
0% to ___ % of
students will meet the
PI targets.
Needs Improvement
___% to ___% of
students will meet the
PI targets.
Proficient
___% to ___% of
students will meet the PI
targets.
Distinguished
___% to 100% of
students will meet the PI
targets.
.
Teacher Signature _________________________Date______ Evaluator Signature _____________________Date______
 Distinguished (3)
5b. Elective
Rating
Notes/Explanation
 Proficient (2)
 Needs Improvement (1)
 Failing (0)
.
Teacher Signature _________________________Date______ Evaluator Signature _____________________Date______
Describes the number of
students expected to meet the
performance indicator criteria.
5a: Proficient
85% to 94% of students meet
the performance indicator.
Educator Effectiveness: SLO
Growth or Mastery
Does this assessment/
performance task align
with the student
achievement goals for
the SLO?
Check one:
Growth (change in student achievement
across two or more points in time)
Mastery (attainment of a defined level of
achievement)
Growth and Mastery
www.education.state.pa.us
>
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Student Learning Objective
(SLO)
Resources
Training 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
Homeroom is RIA’s web-based learning platform that contains…
• on-line training materials, including the SLO Process Template
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• downloadable SLO training files, except the videos
• links to SAS portal
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www.pdesas.org
 Click on Homeroom link. (right hand
side below Teachscape link)
 Click on RIA Homeroom Site link.
 Login OR Click on Register to create
a login account.
 I suggest using a familiar login and
password (i.e. your email login and
password)
 Once finished, you will be directed
to a screen like the image to the right:
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
SLO stands for _________________________.

The three steps in developing a SLO are _________,
_________, and ___________.

SLO data fits into what category of the Educator
Effectiveness pie? What will the percentage be for 20142015?

An example of a performance measure is ____________.

The two places I can find additional SLO resources are
___________________ and ___________________.
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
Remain in the auditorium with
Missy and Stacey

Move to work groups with pilot team
members
Library – Laura and Charley
Rm. 200 – Danny and Greg
Rm. 206 – Rusty and Justin

Collaborate with group/work independently
46