ELI5: Explain Like I'm 5

Standards-based education reform in the United States

Okay, so imagine you are playing a game with your friends, and you want to make sure everyone knows the rules. So you decide to write down the rules and everyone can follow them.

Well, in the same way, standards-based education reform is like writing down the rules for what students should know and be able to do at different grades in school.

Every state in the United States has its own set of rules, and they are called standards. These standards say what things students need to learn in different subjects like math, science, or history.

Teachers then use these standards to plan lessons and activities that help students learn what they need to know. And when students take tests or assessments, they are being measured on how well they have learned these standards.

The idea behind this type of education reform is to make sure that all students across the country are learning the same things, no matter where they live or go to school. It is also supposed to help make sure that students are better prepared for college and careers after they graduate.

So, to sum it up, standards-based education reform is like making a list of rules for what students should know and be able to do in school, and it helps make sure that all students are learning the same things.