Teacher Tips
All District 7 schools have aligned their policies to comply with the new state regulations on the observation and evaluation of teachers and administrators. Our emphasis will continue to be on sustaining professional development
with a focus on writing and implementing Student Learning Objectives
(SLO).
Although the term SLO may be new, teachers already follow an informal SLO process: they determine students' baseline for learning through data analysis, set academic goals for students, assess student progress, and adjust their instruction on the basis of progress monitoring.
ADEPT
South Carolina's Expanded ADEPT Support and Evaluation System, in compliance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) Waiver awarded to the state of South Carolina in 2012, will incorporate student growth measures into teacher evaluations beginning in 2015-2016 in the form of SLOs.
SLOs are teacher-driven, student-centered, data-informed, standards-based goals that measure an educator's impact on student learning growth within a given interval of instruction.
How many SLOs are required as part of the expanded system?
The South Carolina Department of Education requires the creation of one SLO annually as part of a teacher's evaluation. It is recommended elementary teachers focus their SLO on either literacy or math. Teachers of multiple subjects will write one SLO for one subject area.
Who writes SLOs for use as a student growth measure?
Measuring student growth through SLOs is appropriate for classroom- based teachers who have direct interaction with students who could noticeably improve their learning. This includes licensed teachers of core academic subjects, related subjects (e.g. physical education, career and technology education) and special education. The term classroom teacher does not include special area personnel (e.g. school counselors, library media specialists, speech-language therapists).
Will the SCDOE be collecting SLO templates?
No. The template is designed for use in developing and monitoring.
Will the state audit the assessments used?
No. SLO evaluators will need to approve the assessment used within the SLO as part of the SLO approval process. SCDOE has provided guidance on how to determine the quality of an assessment.
Will SLOs take the place of
Goals-Based Evaluations (GBEs)?
The requirements for Goals Based Evaluation can be satisfied through the completion of Section 9 of the SLO template: Teacher Professional Growth and Development Plan (and Action Research). If an educator does not write a SLO, then GBE will be used.
Where are we in the evaluation timeline?
Between now and November 6: Integral Classroom Observations, Teacher Reflections on Lessons Observed (TT3), and Observers Complete Classroom Observation Record (ET1).
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