Standards 

=Standards:=

What do we want our students to know and be able to do?
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Committee Discussion:

 * some feel imposed; not always realistic
 * often seem to be minimal; some students need more of a challenge
 * should we have 1 set for all students
 * state dictated?
 * are there national standards?
 * there are national standards, and they will be here soon
 * there are career ready standards and college ready standards
 * but aren't some of the work habits important to help model / learn / practice
 * "work habits" outlined in guiding principles"
 * something a number of students won't meet
 * so what should happen? should they graduate?
 * and if they don't, who is responsible?
 * some are too broad, no informative enough
 * essential learnings only!
 * basis for end of course asessments
 * guide for pathway through school
 * do we mean the what or the level of understanding of the "what"?
 * are we saying that all student need the same level of understanding
 * there is a standard that all need and then another level
 * would photosynthesis be the content or a standard?
 * is each course currently aligned to MLR?
 * we currently have curriculum maps that are aligned to MLR
 * is there a different curriculum at various levels
 * there is a different level of understanding, not different standards
 * in math, we have some courses that go beyond state learning results that are not closely aligned because, in three years, kids only get to a certain level, and we are using college-readiness standards
 * does this align with the college readiness test that USM uses
 * we use the accuplacer test

=Question and Answer=


 * Does a standards-based grading system require us to have one set of standards for all students (content, grade level, course)?
 * Would we assess special education, advanced placement, and college preparatory students using the same set of performance targets within the same course?
 * How are levels of achievement (i.e. does not meet, partially meets, meets, exceeds) determined?
 * Are standards in a standards-based system short term or year long, process or skills?
 * What happens when a student does not meet the standards?