What are educational standards?
Educational standards help define what schools will teach students in a given grade and subject area. They act as a road map for educators to ensure that what students learn is consistent across schools and school districts.  In Clovis Unified standards are used to identify concepts, knowledge and skills students need to master.  If content standards are the “what” students will learn, individual school districts, schools and teachers determine “how” this information is delivered to students.  One of the key values in CUSD is continuous improvement and learning. Our goal is and has always been for our students to master the skills and concepts represented by California’s Content Standards. Revised standards don’t change that fact, but they will be used by educators in Clovis Unified to improve the way we help every child be the best they can be in mind, body and spirit. Copies of the standards are included in the links below. A set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about the California Content Standards are available for parents.

How will my child be assessed on the new standards?
Student assessments are not new and for many states, including California, taking assessments online is the standard. Students take online assessments on an annual basis in mathematics and English Language Arts using the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) system. Students in grades 5, 8 and 11 also take a science test handled through the California Science Test (CAST).

What can I do to help my child succeed?
New standards do not change the critical role that informed and involved parents have in a student’s success. In addition to encouraging your student to think in terms of “why” a particular answer or solution is correct, parents are encouraged to stay in close communication with their child’s classroom teachers about school work and progress. Parents can offer help where needed and encourage academic success.