Spotlight on Maryland: Student Learning Objectives and Teacher and Principal Evaluation

This study by the Community Training Assistance Center, the Mid-Atlantic Comprehensive Center, and WestEd examines educators’ perceptions of the support they received in understanding and implementing SLOs as part of the new teacher and principal evaluation system in Maryland. The analysis for this report is based on interviews of superintendents and teacher union/association leaders from six districts and survey responses from teachers, principals, and other educators in nine districts. The findings of this study concluded that educators in Maryland believe there is a substantial learning curve involved in implementing SLOs and there are concerns regarding the support teachers receive when developing SLOs. Maryland educators also are concerned about the quality of communication and level of community support for the new evaluation system. Teachers and district leaders are apprehensive about the capacity of principals to serve as effective evaluators, particularly when implementing SLOs.