The draft Teachers' Guide clarifies many of the standards, especially civics and U.S. history. The attention to U.S. history in the social studies standards is clear and specific at the middle and high school levels. The U.S. history at the elementary level is not as specific as the other two levels, but there is some specific content that all students must learn. The standards would be much stronger, however, if the content were more detailed. World history is not clear or specific at the elementary level.
World history is generally specific at the middle and high school levels.
All students are tested in English and math in grades 4 and 8. Beginning in spring 2000, students will be tested in science and social studies in grades 4 and 8. High school tests will be given in English and math beginning in spring 2001 and in science and social studies beginning in spring 2002. All of these state-developed tests are aligned with the standards. To help describe the new state assessments, Louisiana is developing Teachers' Guides to Statewide Assessment in the four core subjects , which include sample test items.