FAQ
WHAT IS AN ACADEMIC STANDARDS REVIEW?
The Arizona Department of Education conducts a review of academic standards every five to six years. The purpose of a review is to solicit public comment, look at a set of standards, and access any changes needed to make improvements. The Arizona Department of Education then presents the recommended changes to the State Board of Education for consideration and adoption.
HOW ARE THE ACADEMIC STANDARDS adopted?
Arizona Revised Statues (A.R.S.) §§15-701 and 15-701.01 specifically authorize and mandate that the Board adopt academic standards and minimum competency requirements for grades K-12. A.R.S. §15-203 requires that the Board define college and career readiness. Arizona retains authority to approve and modify academic standards; there is no federal law requiring the adoption of specific standards.
HOW CAN I COMMENT ON THE DRAFT STANDARDS?
Beginning August 19, 2016, a 45-day review period will be open to collect comment on the 2016 Arizona DRAFT Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA) Standards. During the 45-day review period, members of the public may comment at a public hearing (click 2016 Standards public hearings list for the schedule of public hearings) or at this website (click Comment on the 2016 Arizona Draft Standards).
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN STANDARDS AND CURRICULUM?
Arizona Revised Statues (A.R.S.) §§15-701 and 15-701.01 specifically authorize and mandate that the Board adopt academic standards and minimum competency requirements for grades K-12. A.R.S. §15-203 requires that the Board define college and career readiness. The State Board of Education adopts academic standards addressing what a student is ultimately expected to learn (i.e., multiply or divide to solve word problems, analyze how complex characters develop over the course of a text, Count within 1000; skip-count by 5s, 10s, and 100s). Arizona retains authority to approve and modify academic standards; there is no federal law requiring the adoption of specific standards.
Local curriculum (i.e., textbooks, math problems, reading material) are the tools use to teach the standards. Neither the Board nor the Arizona Department of Education (ADE) has the authority to adopt or mandate school curriculum. Under A.R.S. §§15-721 and 15-722, local governing boards (both district and charter) have the sole authority to adopt curriculum via public meetings, allowing for community input regarding what instructional materials are used in classrooms.
