Student Learning Plans

Frequently Asked Questions About Student Learning Plans (SLPs)

 

Overview
Student Learning Plan - The goal of the Student Learning Plan (SLP) is to make sure an individual student gets the help needed to stay on track and graduate from high school. All school districts are required to provide a plan for every student (or a group of students with similar academic needs) who is not successful in any or all of the content areas—math, reading or writing—of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL).
 
What must be included? Grades 5 and 8-12: WASL results; actions that the school intends to take to improve the student's skills and strategies; strategies to help parents improve their child's skills; annual adjustments as needed; parent contact.
 
Who needs an SLP? In 2006–07 students in grades 5, 6, 8, 9, 10 and 11 who did not meet standard on the math, reading, and/or writing sections of the WASL are required to have a SLP. All students who are qualified for the following programs also need to have SLPs: Highly Capable, English Language Learner (ELL) and Learning Assistance Program (LAP).
 
How are students and parents/guardians notified of the SLP? Parents will receive a letter sent by the school district describing the interventions that should be done by the school, student and parent/guardian for the student to be more successful on the next WASL opportunity. The heart of this law is the communication between parents and students.
 
Who does not need a SLP? Only students for which the district has WASL scores are eligible for a SLP. This may exclude students such as: out of state transfers, home or private school, or students who did not take the WASL. Transfer students that enter Tacoma with an active learning plan from another district retain the SLP until the new school makes a change.
 
How does this work for Special Education students? Law does not address the Individualized Education Program (IEP) issue. Districts have the option of using the IEP for the SLP. However, most districts complete both processes. IEPs may not match the student’s SLP required content areas.
 
What can parents/guardians do if they want more information to help their student?

• Contact the student’s teacher by phone or e-mail and request suggestions and updates on student progress.
• Attend student/parent/guardian conferences and request to see the student’s data profile and the interventions provided by the teacher and the school that align to that profile.
• Contact the student’s counselor and request a meeting of those teachers involved with the SLP and be sure that the student’s data profile is part of the meeting.
• Contact the appropriate program administrators if the student is in the Highly Capable, ELL or LAP program.