The logic behind organizing schooling around standards is very compelling, and some local school districts like us wish to implement standards-based school reform. Probably one of the most compelling arguments for moving to a standards-based system is the current emphasis on what schools put into the process of schooling as opposed to what students get out of schools. Only if the process succeeds and learning occurs will we say that education happened. Absent evidence of such a result, there is no education - however, many attempts have been made, resources deployed, or energies expended. A standard is a larger category of what students will know.
Benchmarks are statements of specific information and skills.
Performance activities describe how students might demonstrate their abilities. We intend to define standards and benchmarks at each K-8 grade level. We believe that a single letter grade can continue to be used to report student understanding and skill regarding specific standards. The actual report card we may use in the future will include not only a summative or final grade of A to F, but will probably give more information about how well students are doing in each of the standards' areas. We believe that parents will welcome a more complete accounting of what achievement level on each standard has factored into a final grade.