"As measured by teacher observation" is not data. Here's how to spot vague language and what to ask for instead.
A goal is only as strong as the way it will be measured. Districts rarely write weak goals on purpose — they write them quickly, and vague language survives because no one at the table pushes back.
The phrases to catch
- "As measured by teacher observation" — ask for a work sample, probe, or rubric instead.
- "With improved accuracy" — improved from what baseline, to what number?
- "When given support" — name the support, its frequency, and who delivers it.
- "Will demonstrate progress" — progress toward a defined criterion, measured how often?
- "In most settings" — list the settings the goal must generalize to.
What to ask for
Every goal should state a baseline, a target, a measurement method, and a schedule for reporting. If a team member can't tell you how they'd know the goal was met, the goal isn't finished.