Lancaster County School District

Student Learning Objectives are the product of an interest in extending the available data for educators throughout the state. In years past, we have often relied on State or Federal assessment tools for information about our teaching and learning products; student success rates. SLOs offer an opportunity to create and accumulate data for every class, every teacher, and every subject; as opposed to data gathered primarily from State tests like PASS and EOCs.

With the utilization of SLOs, all teachers will establish student learning objectives or goals, based on relevant information about their students “this year” and reflective of subject matter and class or grade level demographic information. SLOs open the door to establish assessments and gather data to align goals, objectives and standards.

SLOs will promote collaboration with colleagues, administrators, schools and districts. SLOs also establish a pathway for all teachers to further their professional growth as they discuss learning objectives with colleagues and administrators during scheduled conferences.

SLOs will impact every student in every school and generate hard data for progressive efforts to improve our efficacy and efficiency.

Specific:  The objective is focused by content standards; by learners’ needs. Measurable:  An appropriate instrument/measure is selected to assess the objective. Attainable:  The objective is within the teacher’s control to effect change and is an appropriate focus for the students’ academic year. Results Oriented/Relevant:  The objective is feasible for the teacher and the skill or content to be measured is appropriate. Time-bound:  The objective is contained within a single school year or instructional period.

 MAP is a computer adaptive test that is administered to the whole class at once.  The Literacy By Design test is based on the reading series. The test is a paper/pencil test with multiple choice questions.  The benchmarks assessment is a reading assessment administered individually.  All three assessments are administered at the beginning of the year as a pre-test and end of year as post-test.

 Teacher enhanced capacity for data driven instruction  Clear connection between curriculum, assessment, and student data  Teacher input and ownership in his/her evaluation

 Each SLO must be approved by the principal or assistant principal by September 30, 2015 for first semester courses and by February 15, 2016 for second semester courses.  The principal (or designee) will conduct a  Preliminary conference  Mid-course conference  Summative conference with each teacher to discuss students’ progress towards the goals in the SLO and provide support as needed.

TaskDeadline Administrators attend regional SLO training presented by SDE By October 2014 Professional Development day - Teachers attend a SLO overview by SDE and principals October 13, 2014 Teachers begin developing SLOs and select/create aligned assessments December 30, 2014 Gather information about district-wide formative and summative assessments by subject/course January 30, 2015 Develop a yearly calendar/timeline for the SLO cycle. February 28, 2015 Determine additional professional development needs for implementation March 30, 2015 Align SLO goals with district goalsApril 15, 2015