The Words We Use: A Glossary of Terms for
Early Childhood Education Standards and Assessment
Definition
Widely accepted statements of expectations for children's learning or the quality of schools and other programs.
Related Terms (Not Synonyms)
Academic standards; Academic content standards; Accreditation standards; Benchmarks; Content standards; Curriculum standards; Expectations; Goals; Learning results; Licensing standards; Early learning standards; Indicators; Performance standards; Program standards; Standards-based assessment; Student academic achievement standards
Explanatory Comments
- Standards is the broadest of a family of terms referring to statements of expectations for children's learning and statements of expectations for program characteristics and performance.
- Standards which address expectations for children's learning are commonly referred to as content standards, academic standards, performance standards, early learning standards, and/or benchmarks.
- Standards which address program quality and/or performance are commonly referred to as licensing standards, accreditation standards, or, in the case of Head Start, performance standards.
- The term standards should not be confused with standardized, a term describing a characteristic of particular kinds of tests.
Web Sources
American Federation of Teachers. Setting standards: What we look for. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.aft.org/edissues/standards/SBS/Standards.htm
ASCD Education Topics. The definition of standards. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.ascd.org/cms/index.cfm?TheViewID=919
Council for Basic Education. Frequently asked questions about standards. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.c-b-e.org/psi/stfaq.htm#list%20of%20questions
National Association for the Education of Young Children & National Association of Early Childhood Specialists in State Departments of Education. (2002). Early learning standards: Creating the conditions for success. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.naeyc.org/resources/position_statements/earlylearn.pdf
National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST). Assessment glossary. Author. Retrieved May 19, 2003, from http://www.cse.ucla.edu/CRESST/pages/glossary.htm
Other Resources
Marzano, R.J., & Kendall, J.S. (1996). A comprehensive guide to designing standards-based districts, schools, and classrooms. Aurora, CO, Mid-Continent Regional Educational Laboratory.
Schmoker, M., & Marzano, R. J. (1999). Realizing the promise of standards-based education. Educational Leadership, 56(6), 17-21.
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