Your Growth plan is a key part of your professional development process. It allows you to identify focus areas, set meaningful professional growth goals, and establish student achievement goals. This article walks you through accessing your Growth Plan, completing each section, responding to edit requests, and submitting progress updates throughout the year.
What is a Growth plan?
A Growth Plan is a collaborative professional development document completed by you and reviewed by your evaluator (such as principal, administrator, or supervisor).
Depending on your organization, Growth plans may also be called:
Professional Development Plans (PDPs)
Individual Professional Learning Plans (IPLPs)
Professional Growth Plans (PGPs)
Your Growth Plan typically includes:
Focus components or standards
Professional growth goals, and the action steps to reach them
Student achievement goals, and the action steps to reach them
Goals and action steps are paired. For each goal you write, there's a matching field for the action steps you'll take to get there — so your plan says both what you're aiming for and how you'll do it.
Accessing Your Growth Plan
Steps
Watch for an email invitation from your evaluator requesting a Growth Plan.
Click the secure link in the email to open your plan.
The form opens directly in your browser—no login required.
You can also open it from the Action Required section of your Staff Portal.
Important
Your link is valid for 60 days.
If it expired, your evaluator can resend it.
Any saved work will still be available.
Completing Your Growth Plan
Your Growth Plan is organized into clear sections. Work through each section before submitting.
Selecting Focus Components
Focus components identify the areas of practice you want to prioritize for growth.
Steps
Select Select Components/Indicators... to open the list.
Browse available components organized by domain.
Select 1-5 components that align with your professional goals. Your choices appear under Selected Components/Indicators.
Tips
Choose areas where you genuinely want to grow
Use prior feedback or observations as guidance
You do not need to select the maximum number
Note: Your group or building may have default standards already selected for you. If some components are pre-filled when you open your plan, that's why — your administrator set defaults for your group. You can usually adjust them; check with your evaluator if you're unsure.
Writing Your Professional Growth Goal and Action Steps
This section has two paired fields: the goal itself, and the action steps you'll take to reach it. Both are required.
Steps
In Professional Growth Goal, describe your professional growth goal(s) as they relate to the components you selected.
In Professional Growth Goal Action Steps, describe the action steps, timeline, and supports needed to achieve that goal.
(Optional) Use the AI writing assistant (if enabled) to draft or refine either field.
The AI assistant can help:
Turn brief ideas into complete goals
Clarify language
Make goals more specific and measurable
All AI-generated content is fully editable—you control the final wording.
Tip: Keep the goal about the outcome you want, and put the "how" in the action steps. Naming a timeline and the support you'll need makes the plan much easier for your evaluator to approve.
If you leave either field blank you'll see "Professional growth goals are required" or "Professional growth goal action steps are required" when you try to submit.
Setting Your Student Achievement Goal and Action Steps
Student achievement goals connect your professional growth to the measurable outcomes you want to see for your students. Like growth goals, they're paired with action steps.
Steps
In Student Achievement Goals, describe your student achievement goal.
In Student Achievement Goals Action Steps, describe how you'll get there.
(Optional) Use the AI writing assistant (if enabled) to draft or refine either field.
Tips
Focus on outcomes you can measure or observe
Connect goals to the focus components you selected
Keep goals realistic for the evaluation cycle
Note: Student achievement goals are required for some districts and optional for others. If your district doesn't use them, you won't see these fields.
Other Sections You May See
Depending on your district's configuration, your plan may also include:
District Goals — district priorities your plan should connect to
Support Needed — resources, professional development, or collaboration that would help you reach your goals
Student Achievement Indicators — select which indicators apply
Student Success Indicators — select which indicators apply
Signing and Submitting Your Growth Plan
Steps
Review all sections for completeness.
Confirm every goal has its matching action steps filled in.
Add your signature in the signature box.
Select Submit.
Important: Once submitted, you cannot make changes unless your evaluator returns the plan for edits.
What Happens After You Submit
After submission:
Your evaluator reviews your Growth Plan, including your goals and action steps side by side.
One of two things happens:
The plan is finalized and approved
The evaluator requests edits with feedback
Once finalized, your Growth Plan becomes active for the evaluation cycle.
Your evaluator may request progress updates later in the year, and a year-end update at the end.
Responding to Edit Requests
Edit requests are a normal part of creating a strong, collaborative plan.
Steps
Open the edit request email from your evaluator.
Click the link to reopen your Growth Plan.
Review the evaluator's comments.
Update the requested sections.
Re-sign and resubmit the plan.
Submitting Progress Updates
Progress updates allow you to reflect on how your plan is unfolding throughout the year.
Steps
Open the progress update request email, or select Update Progress from Action Required in your Staff Portal.
Click the link to open the update form.
Describe progress toward your goals.
Upload supporting artifacts (optional).
Add your signature and submit.
Artifacts may include
Lesson plans
Student work samples
Professional development certificates
Data reports or reflections
Uploaded documents may generate AI summaries to help your evaluator review them quickly.
Saving Your Work
Your Growth Plan:
Auto-saves every few seconds
Can be closed and reopened using the same email link
Does not require a manual save button
Keep the email link until you've fully submitted your plan.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why are there two fields for each goal?
Your plan pairs each goal with its action steps, so it captures both what you're working toward and how you'll get there. Both fields are required for your professional growth goal.
Some components were already selected when I opened my plan. Why?
Your administrator can set default standards for everyone in a group or building, so those come pre-selected. Check with your evaluator before changing them.
Do I need to create an account?
No. You access your Growth Plan through the secure email link, or from Action Required in your Staff Portal.
Can I come back later?
Yes. Your work saves automatically, but you must use the same email link.
What if my link expires?
Ask your evaluator to resend it—your saved work will still be there.
Can I edit after submitting?
Only if your evaluator requests edits.
Can I view my plan after it's finalized?
Yes. You'll receive a confirmation email with access to the completed plan.
Who can see my Growth Plan?
You, your evaluator, and authorized administrators.
Need More Help?
If you have questions about your Growth Plan, reach out to your evaluator or your organization's administrator for support.