HOW ARE THE STANDARDS ORGANIZED?

COA's standards are organized according to a three-level structure that supports thorough self-assessment and standards implementation (see example 1). The three types of standards are:

A Purpose Standard is found at the beginning of each section of standards. Purpose Standards state the overall aim and desired outcomes of the practices included in a section.

Each section is comprised of several sub-sections, and every sub-section begins with a Core Concept Standard. Core Concept Standards describe program components that support the program's purpose. Implementing all the core concepts in a section contributes to the achievement of the Purpose Standard.

Most sub-sections contain several very specific and detailed standards, which are called Practice Standards. These standards are the most specific standards for which a program will show evidence of implementation. They describe detailed practices that contribute to meeting the Core Concept Standards, and, in turn, the Purpose Standard.