Why Do we Need Standards for Curriculum??

Standards do many things such as keep everyone on the same page. What if Jenny, a fourth grader, had to pick up and move to another state. If we did not have standards we have to follow, her new school could be teaching something completely different at a completely different level. Standards were introduced to make sure we are all learning the same thing at the same grade level, that students and teachers are on the same page and give focus for the teacher. Standards also allow us to show students achievement and help teachers to plan and collect data. Today, curriculum must be aligned with National and State standards and must be balanced. I am very interested in learning how to do this. There seem to be so many different standards that it is very confusing. Hopefully, in the weeks to come, this will become a little more natural for me.