Content standards are helping Cincinnati Public Schools ensure that written curriculum, classroom instruction and tests of learning all match — an alignment that research suggests makes a powerful impact on student achievement.
The standards for kindergarten through twelfth grade are rigorous and consistent with national standards.
The district uses academic content standards adopted by the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) for core subject areas. Standards for Language Arts and Mathematics were introduced in the 2002-03 school year and Social Studies and Science standards were introduced in 2004-05. The ODE does not require districts to use the state standards. Cincinnati Public Schools previously developed its own content standards, but, with the arrival of the ODE standards, the distict's curriculum councils decided against revising Cincinnati Public Schools' existing standards.
Following the state standards is wise because the state's assessment tests are based on these standards.
Research shows that in high-poverty, urban school districts, the interrelationship of written, taught and tested curriculum plays an important role in student achievement. If the alignment is not good, factors such as family income and parent education loom much larger in student performance, studies suggest.
The standards are incorporated into all CPS professional development focusing on teaching strategies and assessments.
To introduce the new standards, a major awareness campaign was directed at students, parents and the community. Communications featured family-friendly language and use a variety of tools, including classroom posters, a calendar and guides to the standards designed for parents.
Making sure parents understand the standards benefits both the family and the teacher. Good, high-quality guidelines to the standards increase positive parent interactions and develops an understanding of the expectations.