RSA 2: SMART Goals and Goal Setting

RSA #2 SMART Goals and Goal Setting

http://www.nasponline.org/publications/cq/39/7/goal-setting-and-hope.aspx

One of the keys to student achievement is setting difficult but attainable goals aligned with the state standards. (Curran, 2011) Goals need to be established and based on improving student learning.  Teacher collaboration is a must for this to occur. The goals must set specific targets. They should not be general or vague.  The goals should be attainable however moving outside of the “comfort zone”. It will be these “goals” that a school can move forward and use these goals to focus on results. (Dufour, Dufour). 

Schools have focused on new reading programs, changing curriculum, schedule changes, increasing requirements and still not obtaining the results expected.  The focus needs to change from activities to outcomes and goals. Schools need to begin thinking about collaborative teams working toward SMART goals (Rasberry, 2008). There can’t be a separation, teams need to work together to develop measurable goals with a well defined plan to improve student achievement. Team member need to be open about current practices and continually look for ways to do their work better.  The school goals will be translated to SMART goals, which actually clarify the more global goals. Each member can contribute to achieving the results (Curran, 2011).

Goal setting is a simple way to reach the results wanted.  Professional development is needed to get to this point. The goals will focus on outcomes and not strategies.  The leaders need to provide the resources, clarity, supply the teams with the tools necessary to reach the goals, and monitor the team progress. The SMART goals’ intent is to drive the team and contributes to the success of the school and district. Research shows that setting SMART goals is essential to achieving results (DuFour, DuFour).