Thoughts from
Brownies and Benchmarks
November 1998

There were two topics discussed at this session:

"What is the difference between Standards & Benchmarks and Goals & Objectives?"

• A standard is more general than a goal. Goals and objectives support standards and benchmarks by defining what will be done and how they will be measured.
• Goals/objectives - individually based, standards/benchmarks - apply to all.
• Standards and benchmarks help with IEPs where might use goals/objectives because they are more specific and measurable.

"Should students have to meet all benchmarks before moving to the next level?"

• Some students would never be able to progress/be promoted.
• Could have a certificate to indicate who is not able to meet all of the standards (indication in the IEP explaining why - some states do this).
• DC is beginning to work on a functional competency test - VA and MD already have a test that students must pass to earn a diploma
• Establish a minimum number of standards/benchmarks a student must meet to progress (and in which subjects).
• Have some basic/essential benchmarks a student needs to pass in order to be promoted.
• We will need an intervention program for student not meeting all standards.
• State functional tests are assessments of a student's journey toward meeting a standard
• What about teaching to tests - does this interfere with creativity?
• If student does not meet standards would they have to keep retaking the assessment tool?
• What about students who could meet standards for some outcomes but not all?
• Standards and benchmarks could be used to design IEP goals and transition plans.
• For students who are "on-target" for standards and benchmarks - they should need to pass some/all of the benchmarks.
• Would help identify students who need intervention at young age if we assessed progress on benchmarks.
• Before we can decide this we need to set the standards and benchmarks.
• Identifying the appropriate assessment tools will be a challenge, want to make sure they are measuring what they are supposed to measure.

Want to add your two-cents? S&B Email Address: standards.benchmarks@gallaudet.edu