Realizing the Promise of Standards-Based Education
Author: Schmoker, M., Marzano, R.J.
Publisher: Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD)
Publication Date: 1999, March
Journal: Educational Leadership
Journal Volume: 56(6)
Pages: 12-16
Full text available online at: http://www.ascd.org/publications/educational_leadership/mar99/vol56/num06/Realizing_the_Promise_of_Standards-Based_Education.aspx
Abstract (written by WestEd)
"To avoid curricular chaos, educators must be judicious about the standards they assess." According to Schmoker and Marzano, a major obstacle to implementing standards-based reform is that there is simply too much to teach - U.S. mathematics textbooks cover 175% more topics than do German textbooks and 350% more topics than do Japanese textbooks; U.S. science textbooks cover 930% more topics than do German textbooks and 433% more topics than do Japanese textbooks. The authors admonish educators to set limits or priorities according to what can be taught and assessed reasonably and effectively, and the standards decided upon need to be clearly written and easily understood. "Clear, intelligible standards are a pillar of higher achievement. Aligned with appropriate assessments, they can help us realize the dream of learning for all. They are the heart of the infrastructure for school improvement."
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From WestEd.org
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