Student achievement has become a hot topic in education today, especially with increased accountability for classroom teachers. The ultimate goal for any teacher is to improve the ability level and prepare students for adulthood. Defining student achievement and factors that impact progress is critical to becoming a successful teacher.

Student achievement measures the amount of academic content a student learns in a determined amount of time. Each grade level has learning goals or instructional standards that educators are required to teach. Standards are similar to a 'to-do' list that a teacher can use to guide instruction. Student achievement will increase when quality instruction is used to teach instructional standards.

Features

• Demonstrate proficiency and deeper understanding: show mastery in a body of knowledge and skills within each discipline
• Apply their learning: transfer knowledge and skills to novel, meaningful tasks
• Think critically: analyze, evaluate, and synthesize complex ideas and consider multiple perspectives
• Communicate clearly: write, speak, and present ideas effectively in a variety of media within and across disciplines
• Work to become effective learners: develop the mindsets and skills for success in college, career, and life (e.g., initiative, responsibility, perseverance, collaboration)
• Work to become ethical people: treat others well and stand up for what is right (e.g., empathy, integrity, respect, compassion)
• Create complex work: demonstrate higher-order thinking, multiple perspectives and transfer of understanding
• Demonstrate craftsmanship: create work that is accurate and beautiful in conception and execution
• Create authentic work: demonstrate original thinking and voice, connect to real-world issues and formats, and when possible, create work that is meaningful to the community beyond the school.