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The Planning for All Learners (PAL) process builds upon two prerequisites:

1. A basic understanding of Universal Design for Learning, and
2. Commitment of participating educators to make the curriculum and learning accessible for all learners.

The PAL process begins with the formation of the PAL team, comprised of general education and special education teachers and other appropriate educational specialists at one grade level or with a content specific focus. The team meets regularly during the school year to focus on the foundation of instruction — the curriculum. Identification of a strong team facilitator, responsible for scheduling meetings and agenda, providing and/or facilitating "just in time" support, and actively promoting a growing PAL initiative, is essential to the success of the PAL team. The work of the PAL team must always be aligned with local district and school initiatives, and is guided by state and local curriculum standards.

The PAL process includes four steps, based upon the principles and concepts of UDL, proven professional development strategies, and effective teaching practices. This section provides guidelines and resources for the implementation of each step of the PAL process.

Set Goals

Goal setting is essential to ensure that all learners have access to the goals; be sure to separate means from goals.

1. Establish a context - Provide background information regarding the content and topic for the lesson. This is usually driven by state or content standards.
2. Align goals to standards - The PAL team defines local content standards and aligns the local standards to the state standards to insure that all students have access to high quality curricula. The following links may be used to assist in the goal setting process.
• Access the UDL Goal Setter materials and activities that include an interactive UDL Goal Setter Tutorial and an on-line UDL Goal Setter Tool.
• Learn more about Goal Setting in Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age, Chapter 5.
• Read about national and state standards: http://www.achieve.org/achieve.nsf/Resources?openform and http://www.mcrel.org/.

Analyze Current Status

Baseline information about instructional methods, assessments, and materials as well as classroom profiles provides the PAL team with information to identify existing barriers in the general curriculum.

1. Identify current methods, assessment, and materials.
• Use the Lesson Analysis Template (doc) (pdf) to address currently used methods, assessment, and materials.
2. Develop and refine class profile, based on diversity in classroom.
• Access Class Profile Maker materials and activities that include an interactive Class Profile Maker Tutorial, an on-line Class Profile Maker tool, and a downloadable Class Learning Profile Template.
• Learn more about the diversity of all learners and the implications for education in Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age, Chapter 2.
3. Identify existing barriers in curriculum that prevent access, participation, and progress.
• Access the Curriculum Barriers Finder materials and activities that include an interactive Curriculum Barriers Tutorial, an on-line Curriculum Barriers Tool, and a downloadable Curriculum Barriers Template.

Apply UDL to Lesson/Unit

Identifying currently used methods, assessments, and materials, class profile, and barriers in the curriculum lays a foundation for applying UDL to lesson/unit development.

1. Identify UDL methods, assessment and materials.
• Use the Deriving UDL Solutions (doc) (pdf) template to identify UDL solutions for methods, assessments, and materials.
• Access the UDL Solutions Finder materials and activities that include an interactive UDL Solutions Finder Tutorial, an on-line UDL Solutions Finder Tool, and a downloadable Deriving UDL Solutions Template.
• Learn information about ways that UDL can support curriculum for all students, in Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age, Chapter 6.
2. Write UDL plan.
• Use the UDL Lesson Planning Form (doc) (pdf) to write the UDL lesson plan, grounded in the learning goals, classroom profile, methods and assessment, and materials and tools.
3. Collect and organize materials that support the UDL lesson.
• Learn about designing UDL methods, assessments, and materials, in Teaching Every Student in the Digital Age, Chapter 4.

Teach the UDL Lesson/Unit

Be sure to minimize barriers and realize the promise each student brings to learning, rely on effective teaching practices, and apply challenges appropriately for each learner. In this way, instructors can engage more students and help all students progress. Evaluate and revise the lesson/unit as needed.

1. Teach
2. Evaluate lesson/unit
3. Revise lesson/unit

Example: A teacher describes how her students reacted to a PAL-based lesson.