These standards coaches are some of the district's most successful teachers. Instead of leaving the school campus to attend a one-time conference, teachers now benefit from continual advice and support as they and their students progress through the material. All of this work is driven by a dramatic shift in philosophy. Teachers no longer assume that some children are going to fail. If students don't master the material, the teacher presents it again using another approach.
Standards help parents search for evidence of learning.
A major challenge for middle school reformers is that parents tend to back away from their children and their schoolwork just when it is crucial for them to remain involved. Often, adolescents are struggling for independence, and the middle school is located farther from home. But middle school parents can increase their children's success by learning about the standards, talking to their children regularly about school, checking homework and staying in touch with teachers, especially if grades begin to slip. Most schools have sample reading passages or reading lists that show what students should be able to comprehend at various grade levels. Such materials can dispel mystery, providing a quick gauge of how a child measures up.