“ Standards are used as a goal for all students. All teachers expect all students to meet the state’s proficient standard of achievement.

“ Standards are on display throughout the classroom; they are a point of discussion in every lesson.

“ Students know what the standards are and how they will be expected to demonstrate achievement of the standards.

“ Assessment is used in the classroom on a regular basis to gauge student learning and to provide feedback for the teacher on how students are doing in relation to the standards.

“ Assessment in the classroom is not used as a method of simply judging student work, but instead is used to help teachers understand what more instruction students need.

“ Students are given a wide variety of opportunities and methods to demonstrate what they know and can do.

“ Classroom activity and assignments demonstrate that students must use higher-0rder thinking skills like application of knowledge, manipulation of ideas, and hypothesizing to solve real-world problems.

“ The teacher uses a variety of instructional methods on a daily basis in order to try and meet the needs of all students in the classroom.

“ All teaching materials are chosen with the standards in mind.

“ Depth of knowledge is emphasized rather than breadth of knowledge. Students are not expected to simply regurgitate facts and information that will not be kept in long-term memory.

“ Assessment reflects the type of higher order thinking skills that are required in the lessons. Students are allowed to create products and performances to demonstrate knowledge.