HOW WERE DECISIONS ABOUT STANDARDS MADE?

Pacific Standards for Excellence in Mathematics and in Science identifies a key set of important ideas that provide the foundation for understanding and applying mathematics and science. They are standards of excellence for all students and teachers to strive for in order to achieve our vision of mathematically and scientifically literate students who are knowledgeable, capable, and caring.

To be included, the content had to

• represent central mathematical and scientific ideas and organizing principles,

• be ideas that could provide rich explanation and predictions,

• motivate students and teachers to construct significant questions,

• apply in many situations and contexts common to everyday experiences,

• be capable of being linked meaningfully to direct student observations of data or to evidence that is accessible to them.

Students' experiences in mathematics and science should be organized to allow them to gradually build understandings that reflect the current state of mathematical and scientific knowledge. We have, therefore, described developmental sequences indicating how the significant ideas of mathematics and science can be developed over time from the earliest grades through secondary school. Guiding students in their development of an understanding of these ideas is the responsibility of educators at all grade levels.

Although Pacific standards for in Mathematics and Science describes understandings that all students should develop, teachers and school systems must stimulate every student to reach beyond these limited ideas. All students should encounter thought-provoking, engaging experiences in mathematics and science that focus on local resources and environments, reflect personal and regional interests and expertise, and illustrate important uses and applications of mathematics and science.

The Pacific Standards for Excellence in Teaching, in Assessment and in Professional Development describe some of the key ingredients necessary to bring about mathematical and scientific literacy by improving the interaction among students, teachers, and content. The teaching standards describe the knowledge, skills, and attitudes teachers should have to successfully help students achieve literacy. The assessment standards describe the essential characteristics of quality assessment of student learning and the principles which guide assessment decision-making. The professional development standards describe a variety of means through which teachers can develop, maintain, and enhance their skills.