Standards will lead to increased learning

As an educator, parent, and community member, I am proud of the recent success of the Lake Pend Oreille School District. Our schools, staff, and students continue to perform at a high level and we enjoy a tremendous amount of community support. I am confident this will continue as we move forward as a state and school district with more rigorous standards for student learning.

The Idaho Core Standards are indeed significantly higher than Idaho’s previous set of standards. While the transition will be difficult, our students deserve a challenging and thought provoking education that will better prepare them for life after high school. Student progress in regards to the new standards will be reported for the first time in the spring of 2015. While fewer of our students will meet or exceed these new standards than in previous years, I am confident student learning will be at an all-time high.  As a school district we will take what we learn from the first assessment and adjust our practice to ensure continuous growth for our students.

If you are concerned about the new standards, talk to an educator in our district. I would also encourage you to read the standards. In general, we are excited and motivated about the increased rigor for our students. We are obligated to ensure we do whatever we can to better prepare our students for the future. These standards are a step in the right direction.

SHAWN WOODWARD

Sandpoint