Standards and Assessments

Review information on academic standards and assessments in Delaware. Standards specify what students should know and be able to do in the classroom. They serve as goals for teaching and learning. Assessments are an integral part of the instructional cycle and fulfills several purposes for educators, students, parents, policy makers, and community members. Assessments administered at the state, district/charter, and school levels combine to form a system of assessments with the goal of supporting student growth.

Standards

Setting high standards enables students, parents, educators, and citizens to know what students should have learned at a given point in time. DDOE does not dictate classroom curriculum, materials, or textbooks. Instead, Delaware districts and charters operate under local control, which means that instructional decisions are made at the individual district and charter school level by teachers, administrators, central district/charter office staff, and school boards.

Assessments

Assessment is an integral part of the instructional cycle and fulfills several purposes for educators, students, parents, policy makers, and community members. Assessments administered at the state, district/charter, and school levels combine to form a system of assessments with the goal of supporting student growth.

Visual and Performing Arts

Delaware public schools provide a comprehensive, standards-aligned visual and performing arts education system that encompasses dance, music, theater, media art, and visual art, fostering creativity and self-expression among its students. Arts are an integral component of a well-rounded education, contributing significantly to the development of the whole child.