When a school District like ours implements standards-based education, the first step is to adopt a set of academic content standards that are at least as rigorous as those adopted by the State Board of Education. In Poway, a variety of people, primarily teachers, committed numerous hours and expertise over several years to develop our own rigorous Standards that were aligned to the California Standards. The content standards we have developed so far, described what all students should know in key subject areas and be able to do as they complete each grade. (Mathematics, Language Arts, History/Social Science, Science and Technology)

Our Standards are public, written statements of expectations that apply to ALL students. But because students learn differently, it will take some longer than others to demonstrate that they know enough to meet proficiency requirements.

Our PUSD Standards provide teachers, parents, students and community members with a common tool that defines the achievement targets. But Standards will not cause students to learn. The Standards only come to life when they are delivered through effective instructional approaches that reflect the professional judgments and decisions our teachers make…our PUSD teachers who will do “whatever it takes” so that each student learns and achieves the Standards.