Getting to know the standards is essential as a foundation for best practice. Understanding the standards allows educators to examine and reflect on the relationship between the standards and student learning and to gauge the effectiveness of teaching strategies, practices, and beliefs in moving their students toward the goals defined by the standards. When used as a tool, the standards will help educators evaluate student progress, curriculum, teaching strategies, practices and beliefs.

In order to use standards constructively they need to be viewed as tools to improve learning, not as ends in themselves. Knowledge of current developmental theory must be coupled with the standards when assessing individual student learning and designing instruction.

Exploration of national standards connects educators to the larger academic community. The Academic Standards, published by the Indiana Department of Education, define the State's requirements for student learning in Indiana. There is a connection between the Academic Standards and what is tested on the ISTEP+.