High-Quality Content Standards

Because the Nebraska content area standards provide the framework that guides instructional decisions at the local level, their quality is very important.  Drawing from the
Research base of human cognition, motivation, and teaching/learning, NDE identified criteria that describe the characteristics of high-quality standards.  Throughout the writing process, NDE ensures that standards and indicators meet these expectations.  The characteristics NDE identified for quality content area standards are (1) measurable, (2) appropriately challenging, (3) connected, (4) clearly worded, (5) scaffolded, and (6) specific. These characteristics are described further in the sections that follow.  Appendix A includes a checklist for standards and indicators.

This information, including the references mentioned above, was taken from NDE’s Content Area Standards Reference Guide.