Frequently Asked Questions About the SFUSD Draft Content & Performance Standards

San Francisco Unified School District
September, 1996

Why is the SFUSD developing Content and Performance Standards?

Content and Performance Standards are being developed in order to provide district-wide, consistent learning targets for all of our students, regardless of who they are or where they go to school.

What are Content and Performance Standards?

Content Standards define the essential knowledge and skills students are expected to learn in each discipline (what students should know and be able to do). Performance Standards specify how students demonstrate the knowledge and skills as defined by the content standards.

What led up to the development of the Draft Content and Performance Standards?

The San Francisco Unified School District (SFUSD) began discussions during the summer of 1995 about developing Content and Performance Standards. In September, 1995, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Delaine Eastin challenged school districts in California to move to a standards-based system of education. SFUSD accepted the challenge to set high standards for student achievement and to create a system where all students are expected to meet the standards.

How are the Content and Performance Standards being developed?

Six Standards Committees were formed in our district in the Spring and Summer of 1996, one in each of the following disciplines: English/Language Arts, History/Social Science, Mathematics, Science, Technology, and Visual and Performing Arts. The members of the committees represented diverse constituencies of the pre-K through 12 educational community. The committee's charge was to develop Content and Performance Standards that are at least as rigorous as the California Department of Education Draft Interim Standards and that address the specific needs of our student population. The SFUSD Draft Content and Performance Standards are largely influenced by national standards documents such as the New Standards Consultation Draft Performance Standards, and by state frameworks.

How will the Draft Content and Performance Standards be used this year?

This year, our educational community should view the SFUSD Draft Content and Performance Standards as a work-in-progress and a discourse document. They will be used to promote discussion about how standards, curriculum, teaching practices, and assessment can be aligned. These standards will go through several revisions this year to incorporate feedback from our educational community, to clarify writing, and to ensure meaningful use.

The draft standards currently available on the Internet:

the Draft Science Standards
the Draft Technology Standards