Essential outcomes represent the essential understandings that a students must learn to reach high levels of learning

Essential outcomes identify "have to know" versus "nice to know" which informs planning and instruction

Essential outcomes help us to identify which students did not master specific essential outcomes and need additional support

Essential outcomes support common assessment development

Essential outcomes do not represent all that you are going to teach

Essential outcomes do not omit parts of the curriculum

Essential outcomes are not for reporting purposes only -- you can't stick them into a report card as is...

Essential outcomes do not focus solely on the PAT