Content Standards

Content standards are designed to encourage the highest achievement of every student, by defining the knowledge, concepts, and skills that students should acquire at each grade level. Content standards refer to what gets taught in specific content areas (e.g., reading, language arts, mathematics, science, history). In other words, what knowledge and skills our students should acquire in the classroom. Content standards do not work alone. They require a support system. Benchmarks are one of the supporters.  Benchmarks measurable descriptors of student knowledge and expected student learning outcomes based on grade level. They are among the tools used in rating the effectiveness of teachers and schools. Providing a learning target for a span of grades. As a parent, I prefer that my child is held to a standard of his grade level or above his grade level. Benchmark results provide the information of what my child need to study more or even get a tutor.   (http://www.iowa.gov/educate/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1350&Itemid=2287)