Frequently Asked Questions about Student Plans

Who is required to have a SLP?
Learning plans must be developed for all 8th grade students who were not successful on any or all areas of the state assessment during the previous year, and for 8th grade students who have credit deficiencies or have excessive absence rates that could interfere with graduation. It should be noted that the plan does not move forward as the student enters high school.

When does the SLP have to be completed?
The law doesn’t specify when the plans need to be completed. The learning plans will be most helpful to students if they are completed early in the school.

What about students who are new to the district? What if they didn't take the state assessment or we can't locate their scores?
Efforts should be made to locate state assessment results of students who transferred into the district. If a student did not take the state assessment (e.g., transferred from out-of-state, was absent, was a private or home-schooled student), a learning plan would only be required for 8th grade students who have credit deficiencies or have excessive absence rates that could interfere with graduation.

What about students enrolled in special education? They already have individual education plans. Do we have to create separate SLPs for them?
As long as the student learning plans include the elements required in the law, districts have the option to either create learning plans for students receiving special education services, or to incorporate these learning plans into existing individual education plans (IEP). The law does not specifically address students eligible for special education services.

Are any other learning plans required?
The 2004 Legislature required that SLPs be developed for students who participate in the Learning Assistance Program (LAP), beginning in the 2005-06 school year. These plans may be incorporated into other student achievement plans, such as the 8th grade SLPs, "High School and Beyond" plans, individual education plans, or achievement plans for groups of students.

Can we combine the LAP and the SLP into one plan to fulfill the requirement?
Yes, but it would be at the 8th grade level only. The LAP Accelerated Learning Plan may be combined with the Certificate of Academic Achievement Student Learning Plan (SLP) as long as the four required elements for the LAP Accelerated Learning Plan are addressed. These elements include:

1. Student achievement goals.
2. Roles defined for students, parents and teachers in accomplishing the plan.
3. A communication plan regarding student achievement with the student and parent.
4. A plan to review the accelerated learning plan to make identified adjustments.

Can we combine the Highly Capable and the SLP into one plan to fulfill the requirement?
Yes. The Highly Capable Student Educational Program Plan may be combined with the Certificate of Academic Achievement Student Learning Plan (SLP) at the 8th grade as long as the elements for the HC Student Educational Program Plan are addressed. These elements include:

• Assessed area of strength.
• Program Placement.
• Target Concepts/Goals.
• Plan of Action (Pre-assessment, strategies for attaining target goals, results/summary/evaluation and plan for communicating student achievement with parents).
• A plan to review and adjust the HC Student Educational Program plan.
• The combined SLP and HCP plans can be created using the web-based SLP tool as long as the five items listed above are included in the plans.

How are parents involved in these learning plans?
Parents or guardians must be notified of the SLP, preferably through a parent conference. Progress on the plan must be reported to parents or guardians at least once a year.