Frequently Asked Questions: This page contains answers to common questions.

1. What is an Instructional Coach?
2. What is standards based education?
3. Why are standards important?
4. How are standards useful to teachers?
5. How are standards useful to parents?
6. How are standards useful to students?

What is an Instructional Coach?

Each elementary school in APS has an instructional coach.  The Instructional
Coach mentors and/or coaches teachers to deepen knowledge in core academic
subjects and instructional strategies.  They support standards implementation
and plan and implement staff development.

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What is standards based education?

Standards based education is a process for planning, delivering, monitoring,
and improving academic programs in which clearly defined academic content
standards provide the basis for content in instruction and assessment.

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Why are standards important?

Standards provide clarity and a fixed point of reference for students and
teachers on what content and skill to teach at each grade level.  Standards
guide instruction that is focused on student learning.  They provide a common
language with which to have conversations about educational attainment. 
Standards help insure equal educational opportunities and assist in
identifying struggling students and they meet federal guidelines

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How are standards useful to teachers?

One of the benefits of a standards based education system is that the
consistent use of standards across classrooms and grade levels makes it easier
to analyze the performance of groups of students by and across grade levels. 
In this way teachers can identify gaps in the curriculum and areas of low
performance by students; a growing body of research indicates that when
correctly implemented, standards based systems increase student learning
because they clearly describe learning expectations.

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How are standards useful to parents?

Standards are useful for parents because they indicate expectations for their
children.  Further, the standards help assure equity.  The standards are for
all students in all schools.

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How are standards useful to students?

Standards are useful for students because they clearly describe learning
expectations.  Students know what they are expected to learn.  They know how
to meet high standards and are prepared for future academic study, as well as
success on the state achievement testing system.

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