It may use standardized tests, alternative assessment methods, student portfolios, or some other terms. Finally, your school may use special terms to describe the degree to which students meet the performance standards. For example, your school may use the terms basic, novice, proficient, and mastery. Students performing at a basic level are just beginning to learn the skills expected of them for their grade level. Students performing at a novice level are gaining the skills.
Students performing at a proficient level can perform the skills most of the time.
And, students performing at a mastery level have completely gained, or mastered, the skills. The document containing your school's standards should define any special terms that are used. You also may want to ask school staff to explain them to you. Standards set goals and a plan of action for meeting those goals. Therefore schools use the standards to guide decisions on what and how to teach students.