To outline the academic standards and grade level benchmarks which will be used in a number of ways:

• These standards are the foundation of Seattle's standards-based learning system which means that instructional resources, classroom instruction , and the district's assessment system will have a common focus.
  
  
• These standards help teachers set priorities for use of instructional time and identify specific needs of students for additional time and support.
  
  
• The standards are common expectations for all students, so that every child is challenged and supported to reach high levels of achievement, applications and reasoning.
  
  
• Standards in the four core areas of reading, writing, communication and mathematics provide the structure for integration of other subjects and school -based initiatives.
  
  
• The standards communicate the district's commitments to parents and the community.