Learning Standards (Step 1 AIR): For this section, we should reference the AIR SLO Basics publications brief desciption on Ohio's podcast on selecting standards:
Across the Ottawa Area, we have adopted language from Solution Tree (DuFours, Mattos, Webb, etc.) categorizing three types of standards:
  • Important:  These represent the majority of standards and we guarantee every child will be taught important standards over the course or through out grade level.  We recognize not all students will master 100% of the important standards, but they will be taught to the best of our ability.
  • Essential:  These standards are a subset of the important standards, for these represent essential knowledge for the next grade level, other courses and/or life.  We guarantee every child will learn these standards and commit to progress monitoring, re-teaching and intervention if necessary to assure success for ALL students.  
  • Nice to Know: These standards are just that, nice to know for some of our students.  However, these are the standards we may not teach to the highly motivated, yet struggling student.  Often, these standards can be used to differentiate instrution during intervention blocks. 

Flip Module on Essential Standards

Cobb County and the Georgia Dept of Ed has posted a module for Power Standards.
Mike Mattos discussing the need to rethink intervention and the need for essential standards (1:29 mark)
Regardless of language, one thing remains clear, the SLO should based on a select number of high priority standards taught in the course.