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Standards and testing: How is your child affected?

It's testing season for many students across the country. But what are they being tests for? How are the tests useful? And most important, how do they affect what students learn? Although, these are straightforward questions with no clear answers the Center offers a better understanding with The Nature of Assessments: A guide to standards and assessments and Key Lessons: High stakes testing and effects on instruction.

The straight story on high school graduation rates

Do you know how many students are graduating from your high schools? Do you know how your state calculates its graduation rate? Did you know that all graduation rates are not the same? If not, check out The Straight Story on High School Graduation Rates to find out how many students are graduating in your state and why some rates are different than other. Read more.

Report: States standards continue to improve

A national teachers union finds that most states have improved their academic standards but more work is needed. Read more.

Why Public Education?

Public education in the United States means:

A tuition-free education for all students
The promise of equal educational opportunities no matter race, religion or ability
A commitment to high standards and high expectations for all students
A system of governance that ensures public accountability
A benefit to society by teaching democratic principles and common values

Por qué Educación Pública?

La educación pública en Estados Unidos significa:

Una educación gratuita para todos los estudiantes
Una promesa de oportunidades educativas iguales sin importar la raza, la religión o la habilidad.
Un compromiso con altos niveles y altas expectativas para todos los estudiantes.
Un sistema gobernante que asegura la responsabilidad pública.
Un beneficio a la sociedad que se da enseñando principios democráticos y valores comunes.