17 Student Growth Student Growth The student growth component of the evaluation represents 50% of the Wicomico County teacher’s overall evaluation model. Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are used to measure student growth. Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) A Student Learning Objective (SLO) is a specific, rigorous, measurable, long-term academic goal for groups of students that teachers establish to guide instructional efforts. They are most often set in a collaborative process by teachers, their supervisors, and their building administrators. SLOs are intended to provide teachers with opportunities to demonstrate the impact of their instruction on student performance by setting ambitious yet attainable goals for student achievement that are aligned to standards and to the instruction that teachers provide on a daily basis. SLOs are based on student learning needs identified by a review of data reflecting students’ baseline skills. A high-quality SLO should be broad enough to represent the most important learning or overarching skills but be narrow enough to measure. The SLO process allows teachers to focus on the specific objectives they want to achieve with their students and determine student growth using the measures that are most relevant for their student population and content areas. Each teacher will develop 2-4 SLOs with each being weighted equally within the 50% of the student growth component (e.g., if two SLOs are developed they are each worth 25%). Teachers within assessed areas (i.e., grades 3-8 English/language arts and math, grades 5 and 8 science, Algebra I, Government and English 10) must develop at least one SLO that is informed by the Maryland College and Career Ready Standards (MDCCRS). SLO Quality Rubric An SLO Quality Rubric is provided on the next three pages. The rubric is designed to assist teachers improve the quality of their SLOs during the development process and to assist administrators during the SLO approval process. In some instances, circumstances beyond the control of the SLO developer may make it impossible to write a component to meet the highest quality standard. Final SLO approval is at the discretion of the principal; however, no SLO will be approved should one or more of its components fall into the Not Approvable range on the rubric.
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