Maryland is working to improve education for all students by implementing new academic standards, the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards, and new PARCC state assessments aligned to new standards. Parents may ask, "What do those terms, “standards” and “assessments,” actually mean?" "How do standards and assessments fit in with the curriculum and classroom instruction that students receive?" This chart – What Are Standards, Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessments? – helps put those pieces together and explains the important role each component plays in teaching and learning. Find this resource as well as other PARCC information on the MSDE website at: http://marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/programs/parcc/index.html.