Making Standards Useful in the Classroom

Has the standards movement in the United States led to improved classroom instruction and effective assessment? In too many cases, the answer is no. As authors Robert J. Marzano and Mark W. Haystead explain, two major reasons account for this situation: state and national standards documents typically identify far more content than teachers can actually teach during a school year, and the standards are not written in a manner that supports effective instruction and assessment.

Dr. Robert J. Marzano is CEO and co-founder of Marzano Research Laboratory, which specializes in school reform efforts to enhance student academic achievement. Over his 40 years in education, the central theme of his work has been translating research and theory into practical programs and tools for teachers and administrators. He is the author of more than 30 books, 150 articles, and more than 100 curriculum guides and related materials for teachers and students.