Federal Way Public Schools’ standards-based education system establishes challenging and appropriate learning targets for all students.

We do this in every course, at every grade level, and in every classroom. We use standards-based education across the district to ensure our entire students graduate with the critical knowledge and 21st century skills.

• Standards-based learning provides the foundation for 21st century learning opportunities that prepare students for today, tomorrow and the future.
• Provides a fair and objective way to evaluate students based on what they have learned while providing the appropriate level of challenge and rigor.
• Gives teachers a powerful system for teaching.
• Helps parents be knowledgeable participants in their students’ education.

Standards-based education is the teaching, assessment and reporting of student performance based on consistent and equitable measurements.

Elements of standards-based curriculum have been in place in Federal Way Public Schools since the early 2000’s. In 2010, the Board of Directors instructed administration to move to a fully standards-based education system to be implemented in the 2011-2012 school year.

Committees of teachers, administrators, parents and students met frequently during the 2010-2011 school year to work through the details of this important transition, including selecting power (or priority) standards.