Key Elements of a State System of Mathematics, Science, and Technology Education

1. COHERENT EDUCATION POLICY
   An internally consistent body of laws and regulations that supports and documents student achievement of the content standards
2. CONTENT STANDARDS
   Statements about what all students should know and be able to do
3. ASSESSMENT STANDARDS
   Statements about how to measure what students know and are able to do
4. ALIGNMENT OF K-12 AND HIGHER EDUCATION
   Procedures for aligning higher education entrance requirements, testing policies, courses of study, and instructional practices with the K-12 standards
5. TEACHER PREPARATION
   Programs governing the recruitment, preparation, and induction of K-12 classroom teachers
6. TEACHER PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EVALUATION
   Standards and lifelong programs of study to improve and evaluate teachers' effectiveness in helping all students to achieve the standards
7. SCHOOL LEADERSHIP
   Programs to prepare and assist school administrators to lead instructional improvement
8. INSTRUCTIONAL MATERIALS
   The books, manipulatives, laboratory equipment, and electronic resources used to help all students achieve the standards at each grade level
9. EQUITABLE LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES
   Resource allocation policies that provide each child with an equitable opportunity to achieve the standards
10. PUBLIC UNDERSTANDING AND ENGAGEMENT
    A program to promote public understanding of and engagement in mathematics, science, and technology education
11. SYSTEM ACCOUNTABILITY
    The planned collection of data - and the use of that data - to make decisions about the effectiveness of the system
12. BROAD-BASED STATE LEADERSHIP
    A state-level coalition of business, community, education, and policy leaders working to improve the state's system of education
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