Fact Sheet: What Parents Need to Know about New Higher Standards for Students   Have you heard stories about high school graduates who can't read? Or get into college or land a job? This is because their schools didn't have high standards. Or give students enough opportunities to learn. New school reforms call for high standards. They say that it's the school's job to make sure kids learn what they need to know to go on to higher education and have a rewarding career. Students who meet high learning standards benefit for life. What are standards? Standards mean high-level knowledge and skills that all children should master."All students" include students from low-income families, those with disabilities, and those who know limited English. There are two kinds of standards: Content standards are what the community decides that students should learn. They are set for the subjects in each grade in school. Performance standards tell us how well students have learned the content standards. If they don't do well, the schools must improve. When states and school districts set high standards, they put teeth in the belief that "every child can learn." Parents can use these policies to make sure of two key things: The new, higher standards are reasonable, and The school does what it takes to help all students meet these standards. Every school community should ask these questions about raising standards for all students: What do we want all students to know and be able to do? What do we have to do to make sure that students learn and can perform the required skills? How do we know whether students are learning? Can they use the knowledge and skills expected of them? What happens if students don't succeed? How can you help your child reach high standards? Talk to your child's teachers. Ask to be involved in all decisions about your child's education and learning needs. Ask lots of questions, like the ones on the next page. When parents know their rights, the schools tend to respect them more. How are standards being used in our school? Are courses designed to help my child reach the high standards? Do the standards guide what teachers teach? Do teachers use standards when they develop learning materials? Do the tests students take match the standards and what the teachers cover in class? Ways that teachers can help each student learn best. Not all students learn the same way. Good schools use many methods to help students learn: Teachers don't just lecture or ask students to read textbooks. They use pictures, charts, and hands-on projects. Students don't just sit at their desks. They do projects that push them to explore what they know and show what they have learned in creative ways. Children with limited English are taught in their first language. Students with disabilities learn in the regular classroom. But they get support services to help them if they need it. Students who fall behind can get tutoring and one-on-one help. Students can learn and take tests using Braille, tapes, and computers. What is the plan to help students who need to improve their results? How does the school measure children's performance? Are tests fair? Are they tied to what students have been taught? Does the school have a set of high standards for ALL students? What about students with disabilities or students in Title I programs? Do school staff expect them to learn what other students are supposed to know? Or are they placed in low-track courses with lower standards? How well are students meeting the content and performance standards? What Can You Do If Your Child Isn't Meeting High Standards? Ask to meet with your child's teachers and guidance counselor. Look over your child's school records, including tests and test results. (See the fact sheet on FERPA.) Ask in what areas of knowledge and skills your child does not meet the state or local standards. You have a right to expect that school staff will offer strategies and suggestions. They must help your child to reach the standards set for all students. If you're not satisfied with what the school says, you can meet with an advocate or an attorney. There are legal tools that can to help make sure that all students reach the new, higher standards. from Supporting Our Kids: A Family-School-Community Campaign, copyright Center for Law and Education, 1996.