Student Learning Objectives (SLOs) are measurable, long-term, academic goals, informed by available data, that a teacher or teacher team sets at the beginning of the year for all students.
Education evaluation law in Michigan requires that beginning in the 2024-25 academic year, 20% of the year-end evaluation must be based on locally agreed-on student growth and assessment data or student learning objectives metrics, which must be collectively bargained, if applicable.
SLOs are one way to measure the academic growth of students. The Michigan Department of Education has consulted with other states and districts to gain useful information about SLO implementation.
These SLO documents provide guidance for districts that choose to use them in educator evaluation systems. For more information about the use of SLOs, please email MDE-EdEvals@michigan.gov.
The Student Learning Objective FAQ provides an overview of commonly asked questions and answers.
The guidance document for implementation and use of SLOs for educator evaluation offers recommendations for using SLOs within the teacher evaluation and effectiveness process, and describes district decision points to facilitate district decision making.
The SLO template is a suggested format for setting student growth targets.
The template checklist is a resource that may be used as a fidelity checklist when developing and approving SLOs. All criteria are recommended to be met to approve SLOs.
The student learning objective (SLO) student growth measurement tool is designed to be used within the SLO process to help teachers measure student growth goals when using school or district assessments that do not provide student growth criteria.
