Student Learning Objectives

The New York State Education Department (NYSED) has released important resources for district leaders as they implement a critical component of the new teacher evaluation system, including the Student Learning Objective (SLO) Guidance Document, Student Learning Objective (SLO) Road Map, and a series of introductory webinars. These resources explain how New York State will assess the learning growth of students in classrooms where there is no State assessment that can be used for a State-provided growth or value-added measure (sometimes called non-tested subjects).

For the 2012-13 school year, the first year where Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) will be implemented in most schools, SLOs will apply to a large majority of teachers in every school. Generally, teachers who do not teach in grades 4-8 ELA and Math will have SLOs, and all principals will participate in the implementation of this new process. While the State’s new documents apply only to using SLOs as “comparable growth measures” for the State 20% of a teacher’s APPR rating in the teacher evaluation system, Districts also have the option of choosing SLOs as a locally-selected measure of student achievement.

The development of Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) is an evolutionary process, and we are only at the beginning stages of this work. Over the coming months, NYSED will work closely with district leaders to ensure they understand the State-determined SLO process. NYSED will also provide a series of webinars, training, and materials, including model SLOs, to ensure that the field is able to utilize the materials and to help facilitate the necessary district level decisions that will allow for implementation by principals and teachers.

NYSED is committed to providing district leaders support as they embark on this critical work. Beginning in mid-December 2011 and running through the end of March 2012, NYSED will host a series of introductory webinars. Each webinar will introduce components of the SLO process that will help district leaders to communicate and begin the implementation process with stakeholders.

The webinar series is available here:
http://engageny.org/resource/student-learning-objectives-webinar-series/

NYSED will continue to host a series of introductory webinars running through the end of March that will be posted on EngageNY.org. Beginning this January, and carrying through to this summer, the Network Team Institute training will include specific turnkey training for Network Teams to use with district leaders and educators regarding the SLO process. All districts should be trained on SLOs prior to the 2012-13 school year.

Please send questions to slohelp@mail.nysed.gov. The State Education Department encourages your feedback and participation on this very important process and looks forward to working together to ensure that all students achieve college and career readiness.