Frequently Asked Questions
about State Standards

1. Is there a connection between the “No Child Left Behind” Legislation
   and standards?
2. What are standards?
3. Are standards the same in each state?
4. How do teachers decide which standards to teach?
5. How do schools determine that students have met the standards?
6. Do standards change?
7. Do students in special education have to follow state standards?
8. How do I know if Super Duper® products meet my state’s standards?
9. Which State does not use state educational standards?

1. Is there a connection between the “No Child Left Behind”     legislation and standards?

Yes. Forty-nine states have developed educational standards in order to measure student achievement as required by the No Child Left Behind legislation. State testing determines each child’s progress in a subject area as it relates to the standards taught at the child's grade level.

2.What are standards?

Standards are specific skills that children should master at certain grade levels. For example, “The student will use reading strategies to decode unknown words.” Standards are most frequently grouped by subject area and grade level. In some cases, states choose to group standards for multiple grade levels (e.g., K-3 or primary).

3. Are standards the same in each state?

No. Each state writes its own set of standards. Usually, states will base their standards on criteria established by national language, math, science, and social studies organizations.

4. How do teachers decide which standards to teach?

Teachers are required to teach the standards that are assigned for their grade level in each subject area. Teachers structure lessons to ensure that each standard is taught. In fact, teachers frequently have to indicate on their lesson plans the standard(s) that they are targeting for their lesson.

5. How do schools determine that students have
     met the standards?

School districts and states test students on a routine basis (sometimes every quarter, half-year, or at the minimum once a school year). The test used at each state varies and is designed to measure that state’s standards.

6. Do standards change?

Yes. Some states update their standards each year, and other states update standards every couple of years. We receive these updates and make sure you have the most up-to-date standards.

7. Do students in special education and/or speech therapy have to follow state standards?

Yes. Most students in special education must comply with grade level state standards, with the exception of a small percent of the population that have severe disabilities.

8. What does it mean if I look for a standard or a product and no standard comes up for my state?

Most likely there is no standard for that product in your state. Just to be sure, feel free to email us and tell us the product/state and we will double check for you.

9. Which state does not use state educational standards?

Iowa currently does not have published state educational standards.