The district has developed clear statements of what students should know and be able to do. Standards apply to all students with high expectations for their success. The teacher knows how each lesson relates to district and state academic standards. Students know what they are learning, what standards are related to it, and why they are learning it.
Planning begins with standards rather than materials.
Students know how the teacher expects them to show what they ve learned. Students frequently evaluate their own work before the teacher does, using the same criteria. Feedback to students is related to performance levels on standards, not based on comparison with other students. Student performance data is used to revise curriculum and instruction. The assessment system includes a balance of external tests for program evaluation and classroom assessments for individual student diagnosis and instruction.