The Madison School District is making the full transition to a standards-based educational system. Here is the first of a series of articles about a standards-based system, with this one focusing on academic standards.

An introduction to a standards-based system. . . academic standards
by the Department of Teaching and Learning

The Wisconsin Academic Standards articulate what students should know and be able to do in each curricular area.

Citizens throughout Wisconsin developed the state's academic standards. Parents, teachers, school board members, and people in business and industry contributed to the development of the initial standards in twelve subject areas—dance, family and consumer education, health education, language arts, mathematics, music, physical education, science, social studies, theatre, visual arts, and world languages.

All school districts in the State of Wisconsin were required to adopt academic standards by August 1, 1998. The Madison Metropolitan School District Board of Education adopted the Wisconsin Model Academic Standards in July, 1998. These standards continue to be used in the MMSD as the basis for all curriculum and instruction.

Three types of standards make up the Wisconsin Academic Standards:

• Content standards serve as goals for teaching and learning to ensure that all students are provided the opportunity to acquire the knowledge and skills to be successful learners in all content areas.
• Performance standards accompany each content standard and delineate how students are meeting a standard.
• Proficiency standards indicate how well students are performing.

All three types of academic standards represent mile markers along the pathway to documenting successful student achievement.

Additional information about the Wisconsin Academic Standards is available at http://dpi.state.wi.us/standards. Future articles will further address standards and the central role they play in curriculum, instruction, assessment, and reporting.