Arizona's Student Academic Standards are the foundation on which student achievement -- and school accountability -- are based.  Although developed by educators in this state, they reflect standards that have been established for subjects by national organizations of discipline specialties.

• The Arizona Department of Education's Standards-Based Teaching and Learning unit provides support and direction for the state of Arizona in the implementation of the Arizona Academic Standards.
• "Blueprints" from ADE delineate the relative value of specific standards by indicating the AIMS test points that can be earned for each.  These can guide instructional emphases.
• The Mid-continent Regional Educational Laboratory (McREL) has produced Effective Standards-Based Practices for Native American Students: A Review of Research Literature.

The Arizona Department of Education has developed Standards and Rubrics for School Improvement and now a Resource Guide for Standards and Rubrics for School Improvement, a comprehensive compilation of  tools and information on the following standards for effective schools:

• school and district leadership
• curriculum, instruction, and professional development
• classroom and school assessments
• school culture, climate, and communication

Arizona Professional Teaching Standards form the bases both of teacher preparation in the state and of licensure requirements.  They are compatible with national standards for teaching.