ABSTRACT
The term “standards” may be used in numerous ways. In general, there are content standards, curriculum standards, and performance standards. Content standards identify the concepts and skills that should be obtained in a course of study. Curriculum standards identify the goals and objectives of a discipline and organize the subject matter. Performance standards describe a demonstrated level of competency. What drives each of these standards is the increased demand for accountability from educational systems. It can be argued that an increase in measures of accountability stems from the government report in 1983 (written by the National Commission on Excellence in Education) known as A Nation at Risk.
