Teacher Observation Templates / California / CSTP Learning Walk Form
Free template for California principals and instructional teams
CSTP Learning Walk Form: California 2024 Standards Walkthrough Template
A ready-to-use learning walk form built on the 2024 California Standards for the Teaching Profession. Note whether each CSTP 1, 2, and 5 element is observed, partially observed, or not yet observed, add comments, photos, or video as evidence, and send the notes to the teacher. Nothing is scored.
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At a glance
Framework
The 2024 California Standards for the Teaching Profession (CSTP), adopted by the Commission on Teacher Credentialing in April 2024
What it covers
CSTP 1 (2 elements), CSTP 2 (4 elements), and CSTP 5 (2 elements)
Rating
Observed, Partially observed, Not yet observed. Non-evaluative, nothing is scored.
Evidence
Comments, photos, and video on every element
What is on the form
One item per element, with the element name and statement from the 2024 CSTP. Read the official 2024 CSTP from the Commission on Teacher Credentialing.
CSTP 1: Engaging and Supporting All Students in Learning
1A Focus on Students
Teachers plan and implement a student-centered learning perspective that frames diversity as an educational asset and supports each student in relevant and challenging experiences that explore students’ identities and extend their learning.
1B Knowledge of Students
Teachers elicit and solicit knowledge of each student’s assets and needs, including cognitive, cultural and linguistic, social–emotional, and physical and developmental capacities, in the service of increasing active engagement in learning.
CSTP 2: Creating and Maintaining Effective Environments for Student Learning
2A Learning Environment
Teachers guide learning through mutually respectful, supportive, and challenging experiences that result in each student’s academic and social–emotional growth.
2B Student Behavior
Teachers communicate, model, practice, and sustain high standards of individual and group behavior that reflect, affirm, and respect diversity, and facilitate productive interactions to maximize opportunities for each student to learn and thrive.
2C Organizational and Resource Management
Teachers organize and manage learning structures, processes, resources, and supports in order to provide a safe and productive learning environment in which each student can grow and thrive.
2D Inclusive Environment
Teachers build on students’ assets (students’ abilities and talents, prior learning and peer and social group interactions, languages and cultures, and family and community experiences) to ensure that students’ identities are included in classroom interactions and future learning experiences.
CSTP 5: Assessing Students for Learning
5A Understanding and Using Assessments
Teachers understand different assessment types and purposes and use multiple methods of assessing students to intentionally collect, analyze, and interpret information directed toward supporting each student’s achievement and well-being.
5B Interpreting and Using Assessment Data to Inform Student Learning
Teachers apply varied data sources to access meaningful information for planning and differentiating student learning experiences, determining developmentally appropriate instructional practices, and improving processes that equitably guide the growth of each student’s academic and social–emotional learning.
When to use it
Learning walks with your team
Walk a few classrooms with your instructional team, all looking for the same CSTP elements, then debrief on what you saw.
Non-evaluative by design
Each element is marked Observed, Partially observed, or Not yet observed. No ratings and no points, so the walk stays about growth.
A common language for feedback
The Commission describes the CSTP as a common language for dialogue and reflection about teaching. Comments on every element let you capture what you saw in that language.
Why only CSTP 1, 2, and 5
The 2024 CSTP has six standards. CSTP 3, 4, and 6 cover subject matter, planning, and professional growth, which show up more in planning and professional conversations than in a short classroom visit.
Within CSTP 1, 2, and 5, the form keeps eight of the twelve elements. Elements such as 1C (family engagement) and 5C (communicating assessment data) are left out. Once it is in your account, you can edit it, add elements, or change the wording to fit your building.
How to get it
1
Click Get this template
It opens the CSTP learning walk in the Education Walkthrough template library.
2
Enter your email
We add the template to your account. If you are new, we email you the template and how to sign in.
3
Walk your first classroom
Open it in the Education Walkthrough app on your phone or tablet, or in your web browser. Note what you see and send the feedback to the teacher.
From walkthroughs to the whole picture
On premium plans, every CSTP learning walk you save feeds Report Builder. Pick a report, and it pulls your walkthrough data together and explains what it means.
1
Walk
Note what you see on the eight CSTP elements, with comments, photos, or video.
2
Feedback
Send the teacher your feedback right after the visit.
3
Patterns
Report Builder pulls every visit together, by teacher, school, or district.
4
Conference
Walk into each conversation with real evidence, not memory.
Teacher coverage
See who has been walked and who hasn't, so every teacher gets visited.
Individual Teacher Report
Every walkthrough for one teacher in one place, with how often each area showed up, ready before the conference.
Qualitative Insights
The themes in your walkthrough comments and the language observers use most, explained in plain language.
Year in Review
A board-ready summary of your walkthrough year, including the instructional themes that came up most.
Sample reports shown with example data. Report Builder is included with premium plans.