Iowa+Department+of+Education+Standards+and+Benchmarks

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 * Benchmark Name:** Iowa Department of Education Standards and Benchmarks


 * Basic Summary of Benchmark:** Iowa changed their education curriculum to meet the standards for the act of No Child Left Behind. Iowa requires boards and students to adapt to challenges regarding their standards in reading, mathematics, science from the date of enrollment in education to high school graduation. Iowa's testing standards have been incorporated into the local standards, and they hold accountability assessment for the No Child Left Behind. Iowa was the most aggressive states in responding to the No Child Left Behind. This alignment of their curriculum represents a high benchmark in states responding to No Child Left Behind. Iowa was the first state to change their ways and incorporate the No Child Left Behind into their new curriculum for all grade levels.


 * Key Manifestations:** Due to modifying their standards to meet the needs and accountability of all students it not only supports the No Child Left Behind act, but it also gives challenges to the students and encourages them to do better if they are introduced to testing at an early age. Iowa is the only state so far that has attempted this specific idea, and so far it seems to be working out for them. Test scores have improved and that is one of their major goals.


 * Key Personnel:** Director Judy Jeffrey goes into great detail about standards and benchmarks in this specific category. ((She is the only name that I can find that did a significant job for this))


 * Why/How a benchmark?** This is a benchmark because it completely supports the aspect of No Child Left Behind which is extremely significant. Each child is introduced to the testing standards at an early age so they become accustomed to these tests and know what to expect as they go higher up in the education system. As well, Iowa is the first state in our country to attempt this with their schools. So far, the school board and students feel that it is meeting the needs of everyone and the test scores have improved. Their goal here is to not only improve test schools or support the No Child Left Behind act, but as well as to introduce testing at an early age so it does not become a shock to students when they are in high school. If they are introduced to testing at such a young age and follow it all the way up, when it comes time for state exams they will not have such an anxiety over it because they have been brought up with tests for so long. Other states have not yet incorporated this into their curriculum; however they have tried other ways to incorporating the No Child Left Behind Act.

[|**http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/674/1001/**]
 * Links:** [|**http://www.iowa.gov/educate/content/view/780/791/**]