Deepening Our Understanding of Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) Welcome! By the end of this meeting, you will be able to… (show next slide)

Meeting Outcomes Participants will be able to: Explain how SLOs are part of the Teacher Evaluation process. Explain the timeline for implementing SLOs. Give a consistent countywide message about SLOs. Access sample SLOs online from the SLO Library. Examine sample SLOs and reflect on possible use.

Think, Pair, Share What do you know about SLOs? What questions do you have that we need to be sure to answer today? What long-term support are you expecting?

Maryland’s Vision for Education Reform WORLD CLASS STUDENTS the PreK-12 Maryland State Curriculum Revise Teacher & Principal Preparation, Development, Retention, and Evaluation Redesign a Statewide Technology Infrastructure Build the Breakthrough Center Approach Implement As part of participating in Maryland’s Race to the Top grant application, HCPSS agreed to support the state’s vision for educational reform. MSDE has indicated that 23 of the local school systems in Maryland,,including HCPSS, plan to incorporate SLOs into their teacher evaluation process.

Teacher Evaluation Pilot Schools Elementary Schools Dayton Oaks Jeffers Hill Ilchester Waterloo Middle Schools Dunloggin Lime Kiln Mayfield Woods High Schools Hammond Mount Hebron River Hill We have 10 schools participating in the Teacher Evaluation Pilot and 129 teachers. As you can see, there are elementary, middle and high schools.

SLO Timeline September 25- Sample SLOs were sent to MSDE. October 3- Pilot School teachers received an overview of SLOs and support in writing them from DOI staff. October 8 and 9- Principal Retreats focusing on SLO development- (Coordinators & IFs provide support.) By October 31- Pilot School teachers have met with their principals to have their SLOs approved. By ????- All teams at all schools will develop one team/department SLO. Here is the SLO Timeline…

Teacher Evaluation In order to prepare teachers during a no-fault year, teachers will develop a group SLO with their team or department this year if they are not already a pilot teacher.

Professional Practice MSDE Educator Evaluation Requirements 50% Student Growth MSDE Educator Evaluation Requirements As you know, MSDE requires that the teacher evaluation include 50% professional practice, aligned with the Charlotte Danielson model, and 50% student growth. This will be implemented for all teachers during the 2013-2014 school year.

Professional Practice 50% Teacher EVALUATION Professional Practice 50% MSDE Charlotte Danielson Framework Planning and Preparation Classroom Environment Instruction Professional Responsibilities HCPSS Our model, aligns with the state model as well as many districts across the nation, aligning professional practice with the Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teacher Evaluation.

MSDE HCPSS Student Learning Objectives Domain 5 MSA Teacher EVALUATION Student Growth 50% MSDE Student Learning Objectives MSA School Index HCPSS Domain 5 State-Mandated Assessments The state model includes student learning objectives, MSA, and the school index. The HCPSS model includes the assessment of teacher performance in the new Domain 5, student growth, as well as student performance on state mandated assessments. For the next two years this is MSA, but in the future this will be the PAARC assessments. Partnership for the Assessment and Readiness for College and Careers

The HCPSS Teacher Evaluation Process The process for teacher evaluation remains aligned with the timeline that you see referenced here. Goal setting occurs in August and September. For the purposes of the pilot year and because of the additional requirements of the SLO, we have extended this timeline to October 31st. Documentation through observation and artifact sharing occurs throughout the year. The mid-year review is a time to share progress, identify challenges, reset course, and the final evaluation culminates in the collaborative dialogue of reviewing the preponderance of evidence.

HCPSS Teacher Evaluation Model Charlotte Danielson’s Framework For Teaching and Learning Professional Practice (50%) Qualitative Measures Domain 1 Planning and Preparation 12.5% Domain 2 Classroom Environment 12.5% Domain 3 Instruction 12.5% Domain 4 Professional Responsibilities 12.5% Domain 5 Student Growth (50%) Quantitative Measures Literacy Reading Writing Speaking and Listening Differentiation 20%/25% Mathematical Practices Overarching Habits Reasoning and Explaining Modeling and Using Tools Seeing Structure and Generalizing Differentiation 20%/25% Creative Problem Solving in Support of MD STEM Standards of Practice Understanding Challenges Generation of Ideas Preparation for Action Application of Technology Differentiation 20%/25% Content Assessments Performance-Based Tasks Differentiation 20%/25% This template defines the HCPSS Teacher Evaluation Model. Professional practice, like the state model, aligns with the 2011 Charlotte Danielson Framework for Teacher Evaluation with each Domain weighted at 12.5 percent. Student Growth is defined by student learning objectives drafted by teachers in consultation with their principals. Teachers will develop two student learning objectives from the four possible indicators of Literacy, Math Practices, Creative Problem Solving in Support of STEM, and Content. For, teachers in non-assessed areas student growth will be measured through progress with two SLOs each worth 25%. For teachers of assessed courses, student growth will be measured through progress in two SLOs, each worth 20% and student progress on MSA equalling 10%. Growth on State Assessments (As Mandated by MSDE) 10%

Student Learning Objective Student Learning Objective. A specific, rigorous, long-term goal for groups of students that represents the most important learning during an interval of instruction. Determined in consultation with evaluator Flexible and job-specific Data-rich process In the HCPSS teacher evaluation model, a significant component of student growth is assessed through the use of Student Learning Objectives or SLOs. SLOs are developed by teachers in consultation with their evaluators. Curriculum staff have developed several sample SLOs for each content area to provide teachers with ideas and models. The models focus on helping teachers identify important growth targets for students and how they can be assessed. The example on the slide is one a first grade teacher might develop. The full SLO document also identifies how students are performing prior to instruction, the rationale for focusing on this aspect of instruction, the criteria the teacher must achieve in order to be rated highly effective or effective, and strategies the teacher will use to help students achieve the identified targets. Example: 100% of (first grade) students will advance on their developmental checklist as measured by the end of year Howard County Reading Behaviors Checklists.

A Student Learning Objective (SLO) is… …an instructional goal… for specific students…for a specific time interval Focused on the most valuable learning Based on the most current student data Aligned to current curriculum standards Specific and measurable Each component of the SLO is important and HCPSS has developed a guide sheet to help teachers think critically about the varied components. Adapted from New York State District-wide Growth Goal Setting Process – Road Map for Districts

Positive Outcomes When SLOs fully support the goal of increasing student achievement for all students…they have the most impact. Informs and drives success of LEA/School priorities and needs Becomes an integral part of successful educators’ practice Provides accountability for student learning and student growth Increases strategic and systemic decision-making Allows for comparable and fair measures of student learning Uses data to target students’ learning needs increasing rigor and performance Research in other states has indicated that when SLOs are implemented well, student achievement improves. It is important that we help our teachers understand the shift from the MSA mastery model to the new emphasis on growth for all students. Well designed SLOs can help with shifting the paradigm. Adapted from New York State District-wide Growth Goal Setting Process – Road Map for Districts

Sample SLOs Pilot teachers will create SLOs in two of the following areas: Literacy Mathematical Practices Creative Problem Solving Content Other teachers create one SLO as a team/department by ?????.

Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) Process Overview Identify Total Student Population (Beginning of year) Implement Data Review and Document Baseline Evidence Participate in Data Discussions Identify Complexity Factors Identify Learning Objective(s) for Student Population(s) Develop Rationale and Growth Target(s) Identify Professional Development Needs Receive Professional Development Implement Instructional Strategies Monitor Progress Adjust Instructional Strategies Mid Interval Progress Check Evaluate Effectiveness Reaching Targets Identify Professional Development Needs Continue Professional Development CLASSROOM OBSERVATIONS & DISCUSSIONS JUNE/JULY NOVEMBER - MAY OCTOBER We are taking things a little bit slower than usual this year. In a normal school year, the SLOs will be developed by the end of September. An important component of the process is for the teacher to share with teacher leaders and curriculum staff the professional development they feel they will need to help students successfully meet their agreed-upon learning targets. ON-GOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT & REFLECTIVE PRACTICE

SLO- 100% of students will demonstrate growth towards mastery on… Population For whom is the SLO developed? Learning Content Describe the content focus for this SLO. Instructional Interval How long will instruction be focused on this learning content? Evidence of Growth Describe and explain the process used to monitor student growth. Baseline Identify baseline data for current student performance level. Rationale for Student Learning Objective Why this learning content? Why these students? Target To what point will students progress or grow in the content? Criteria for Effectiveness Highly Effective Effective Ineffective Strategies What instructional strategies will help students achieve the targeted goal? SLO COMPONENTS Please find the yellow hard copy of the HCPSS Student Learning Objective GUIDE for SLOs and follow along…

Transition to Common Core Link Below is the link to the Transition to the Common Core wiki where the library of SLOs reside: https://transitiontocommoncore.wikispaces.hcpss.org/ Let’s take a look at the sample SLOs…

Student Learning Objectives Small Group Process Student Learning Objectives Table Rotations… • Use the guide and Sample SLO to follow along with the content facilitator. What professional development will your staff need to feel comfortable writing their SLOs?

BREAK

Secondary Table Groups Science Social Studies English Mathematics CTE G/T World Languages PE/Health Library/Media Fine Arts ESOL Instructional Technology

Elementary Table Groups

Time Remaining http://www.online-stopwatch.com/full-screen-stopwatch/

Student Learning Objectives Points to Remember Student Learning Objectives The samples on the Transition to the Common Core wiki are drafts. Teachers need to create two SLOs from different indicators. The due date for creating one SLO will be extended.

“If properly implemented, student learning objectives help teachers bring more science to their art, strengthen instructional support to the classrooms, and improve the quality of the outcome.” William J. Slotnik Founder and Executive Director Community Training and Assistance Center

Dialogue What questions/concerns/suggestions do you still have?