Standards-based education

It seems that everyone wants to tell us what to teach in our class. There are national, state and local content standards. We have our local EPSS (Educational Plan for Student Success). Various community organizations tell us to raise the bar on expectations. Others warn us about causing students to become so frustrated that they drop out. To whom should we listen? To whom are we accountable?

Starting in 1983 with the alarming report, A Nation at Risk, national and state organizations struggled to define what an educated person should know. This resulted in layers of standards, many of which are still in their first iteration. So there are inevitable conflicts and ambiguities as we continue to balance what is desirable with what is realistic.

The resulting content standards do not impose methodology in your class; nor do they dictate how to assess whether your students can meet these criteria. They also are not meant to limit what your teach. They simply are a list of expectations for all students.

Use the links on the left to explore the standards and incorporate them into your teaching.

last updated Sunday, August 19, 2007