As Utah moves toward providing a Model for Measuring Educator Effectiveness there is a need to ensure that all teachers have appropriate ways to demonstrate their contributions to student growth and learning. The Utah Student Growth Model differentiates between teachers of non-tested subjects and grades and teachers of tested subjects and grades. Non-tested subject and grades (NTSG) are teachers who teach courses, subjects, or grades that do not have student achievement data collected from Utah’s standardized achievement tests (SAGE). More specifically, these teachers may instruct in such areas as: social studies, physical education, health, science K-3, dance, visual arts, music, theatre, computer, CTE, early childhood, and other courses not measured by state standardized testing.
In order to support all teachers, especially NTSG teachers, as they continue to improve their instructional practice, the Utah is recommending the implementation and use of Student Learning Objectives as a means to positively impact student achievement.
Student Learning Objectives are especially powerful when teachers are able to collaborate together to create the quality common assessments needed to measure all students within a grade level, department, or content area. Current research shows that creating Student Learning Objectives strategically aligned to instruction has a positive impact on increased learning of students (e.g., Beesley & Apthorp, 2010). In addition, Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) can be used as one measure of student growth and/or achievement to fulfill the required evaluation component of student accountability within Utah’s Educator Evaluation System described in Utah’s Model for Measuring Educator Effectiveness (R277-530 and R277-531).
The use of SLOs allows educators to take an active role and ownership in their own evaluation process focusing support for growth and
learning on all students. By setting SLO Learning Goals and Targets, educators are empowered to provide instruction on their specific content standards and assess progress toward these goals and targets. The SLO Targets, which are written to allow for the greatest potential of improvement for all students, are designed to help educators focus on closing the achievement gap as well as support students to reach beyond simple mastery.
In order to support all teachers, especially NTSG teachers, as they continue to improve their instructional practice, the Utah is recommending the implementation and use of Student Learning Objectives as a means to positively impact student achievement.
Student Learning Objectives are especially powerful when teachers are able to collaborate together to create the quality common assessments needed to measure all students within a grade level, department, or content area. Current research shows that creating Student Learning Objectives strategically aligned to instruction has a positive impact on increased learning of students (e.g., Beesley & Apthorp, 2010). In addition, Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) can be used as one measure of student growth and/or achievement to fulfill the required evaluation component of student accountability within Utah’s Educator Evaluation System described in Utah’s Model for Measuring Educator Effectiveness (R277-530 and R277-531).
The use of SLOs allows educators to take an active role and ownership in their own evaluation process focusing support for growth and
learning on all students. By setting SLO Learning Goals and Targets, educators are empowered to provide instruction on their specific content standards and assess progress toward these goals and targets. The SLO Targets, which are written to allow for the greatest potential of improvement for all students, are designed to help educators focus on closing the achievement gap as well as support students to reach beyond simple mastery.