Goal Setting and
Planning Guide

Student Learning Goals for Teachers 

SLGs are an approach to measuring student learning and the impact a teacher has on student learning. The SLG process provides an opportunity for teachers to collaborate with other teachers and with their evaluators to set meaningful academic goals for their students. SLGs are long-term, measurable, academic goals set for students to accomplish by the end of a course. Developing an SLG includes identifying the most important learning content for the year alongside teachers of the same content area (if available), reviewing student academic and social data, setting a long term goal for students, measuring the long term goal along the way, and evaluating student attainment of the goal at the end of the school year. The SLG process empowers teachers to set a goal for their own students and facilitates deep collaboration between teachers and evaluators to ensure that students reach the goal.

• SLGs encourage a collaborative process. The process of developing SLGs involves collaboration among teams of teachers across grade levels or subject areas to identify the “most important” content.

• SLGs reinforce and can help formalize good teaching practice. The SLG process involves interpreting data, setting the goal, using data to assess progress, and adjusting instruction based on data collected.

• SLGs acknowledge the value of teacher knowledge and teaching skills. Teachers have input on how student learning is measured.

• SLGs are adaptable. They are not dependent on the availability of standardized assessment scores. They can also be adjusted or revised based on changes in standards, curriculum, student population, and/or student needs. 

Student Learning Goals for School Administrators

The SLGs serve much the same purpose for school administrators as for teachers. Collaboration among school administrators within the school and across schools helps to ensure that the SLGs are aligned with the school and district vision. School administrators review student academic and social data, set a long-term goal for students, provide the instructional leadership to help teachers improve practice to positively impact student learning, measure progress toward the goal, and evaluate the attainment of the goal at the end of the school year. Administrators are responsible for creating the culture, climate, and organizational structure that allows teachers to perform at their most effective levels. 

Student Learning Goal Process

Student Learning Goals are not just about the goal that an educator sets for their students. They also emphasize the process educators use to set and monitor student progress towards the desired goal. The educator collaboration and analysis required for successful SLG implementation align with effective practices more broadly. Educators engage in a collaborative process with their teams and ultimately collaborate with their evaluator to establish long-term, measurable, academic goals for their students. There are three main steps to the SLG process as outlined below: