How best to teach the youth of America?  The ever-present question of how to develop strong readers, writers, mathematicians, and thinkers still looms over the American educational system.  In hopes of finding an answer to this question, the educational system has been experimenting with a variety of reforms, one of which is Standards-Based Education.

Academic standards identify specific skills and levels of competency that all students must possess in order to move through the educational system.  It is suggested that through maintaining high academic expectations, which are assessed through formal tests, students will perform at higher levels.  In addition, having set standards will encourage schools, teachers, and students to become more responsible for the learning and achievement of the students.

The following are links that provide general information about standards-based reform:
 
 

Standards-Based Reform:  What is Missing?

http://virtual.clemson.edu/groups/clarkstudy/report1.htm
 
 

Nationwide Issues in Education

http://www.nea.org/helpfrom/achieve/standards/reform.html
 
 

Effective Strategies for Teaching Students

http://www.dpi.state.nc.us/student_promotion/strategies.htm
 
 

Making Standards Matter 1999: Executive Summary

http://www.aft.org/edissues/standards99/index.htm
 
 

Research on the Inclusion of Students with Disabilities and Limited English Proficient Students in Large-Scale Assessment

http://aerasig.cse.ucla.edu/aboutus.htm
 
 

CRESST:  National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing

http://cresst96.cse.ucla.edu/


Definition
History

Current Models
Advantages/Disadvantages



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