Content Standards and Performance Standards

What do standards mean for schools?

-Clear targets -Opportunities to innovate (just have to get students to standard, can do it any way they can, just get them there) -Greater accountability (responsible for all students reaching standards) -Responsibility (must provide all students with a challenging curriculum)

How do we measure what is "good enough"?

-Formative (on-going) assessments -Summative assessments (SATs, AP Tests, projects, etc.) -Rubrics: help bridge standards and assessments

Why have standards?

-makes education fair and gives all students access to high expectations, challenging curricula and effective teaching -makes sure education is coherent and consistent -unifies curriculum, instruction, assessment, accountability and staff dvlpmt -Is supported by research-based belief that all students can learn -prepares students for challenges of next century -complies with federal directives

What is the difference between content and performance standards?

Content standards are broad statements explaining what students should know, care about and be able to do in each level of learning. Performance standards are used to evaluate what specific, measurable evidence is acceptable in determining whether content standards have been met.

Define performance standards

Performance standards clarify content standards by describing what evidence is acceptable in determining whether content standards have been met. -Use clear descriptions to describe quality work. -Include concrete examples -Include explanations of how well students must learn or demonstrate the content, explaining "how good is good enough"

What are standards?

Statements about learning expectations for students.

How does the DOE work with standards for students that have IEPs?

The IEP team looks at the general education curriculum and examines the content standards in relation to the student's needs.

Why are assessments used?

They are used to monitor student progress so that students and teachers know whether students are moving toward achieving standards and what more they need to do to accomplish that.

Define content standards

What students should be able to do, should know and what they should care about. They are broad statements that describe specific content areas that students should learn at each grade level.