District Defines Standards All Students Should Know and Be Able to Do…
The ultimate goal of education in the PLSD is to prepare every student for a smooth transition into life after high school.  That next step after high school may look different for each student.  Some students may choose to attend postsecondary education in a four-year college, a two-year college, or a technical or trade school.  Others may choose to go directly into the workforce or enter the military.  Whichever choice a student makes, it is the commitment of the PLSD to prepare each student for that transition.  To accomplish this, the PLSD identified the key learning characteristics all students need to be successful after high school.  These characteristics are the PLSD power standards.  The power standards are embedded in the curriculum for students in kindergarten through 12^th grade.  By graduation, students should have fully developed the nine power standards and be prepared to make that smooth transition into the next phase of their life.

Knowledgeable individuals understand content necessary to be successful in a variety of endeavors.
They are students who

• Understand and apply critical content in all academic areas.
• Use efficient learning techniques to acquire, connect, and apply new knowledge and skills.
• Extend and refine their knowledge, add new distinctions, and make further connections.

Information processors gather and process information from a variety of sources for different purposes.
They are students who

• Effectively use a variety of information-gathering techniques and information resources.
• Effectively interpret and synthesize information.
• Accurately assess the value and biases of information.
• Recognize how projects benefit from additional information, determine the type of information needed and know where to access it.

Effective communicators apply their reading, speaking, writing, and listening skills to communicate effectively in a variety of modes and settings.
They are students who

• Convey and respond to thoughts, feelings, and beliefs in a socially appropriate way for different audiences and purposes.
• Understand the verbal and nonverbal communications of others.
• Creatively express their thinking in a clear and concise manner using a variety of media and modes.

Competent thinkers think analytically and creatively, solve problems, and make decisions.
They are students who

• Determine and justify the best possible solutions and their implications.
• Predict future events by analyzing data from past events or practices.
• Demonstrate the knowledge, skills, and qualities necessary to make future personal, career, and social decisions in response to a changing world and workplace.

Self-directed learners actively and independently inquire and apply learning to new and different situations.
They are students who

• Develop mental habits that will enable them to learn independently and seek what they want and need to know at any point in their lives.
• Demonstrate independence in their learning by setting goals and making plans to achieve those goals.
• Independently access and process information to prepare for new roles, tasks, and circumstances.
• Take risks when learning something new and unfamiliar outside of their current comfort zone.

Quality producers create products and performances that reflect high standards.
They are students who

• Know the accepted criteria for the product they are creating and make sure the product meets or exceeds those criteria.
• Strive for quality results through continual, thoughtful self-evaluation of their product or performance.
• Are receptive to the input and feedback from others to improve the outcome.
• Demonstrate personal organization, time management, and work study skills.

Collaborative individuals work successfully with others to achieve a common goal. 
They are students who

• Recognize and respect individual differences and multiple perspectives.
• Lead and share responsibility.
• Exhibit tact and the ability to compromise.
• Demonstrate good listening and team problem solving skills.

Well-balanced individuals value physical, intellectual, emotional and social well-being.
They are students who

• Understand the importance of a healthy life style by practicing behaviors that emphasize personal, physical and emotional health and safety.
• Seek opportunities to take risks and purse new learning ventures in order to find enjoyable ways to express and develop talents.
• Establish positive attitudes and perceptions about learning.

Responsible, active citizens are well-informed and apply knowledge and skills to improve the quality of their lives and communities.
They are students who

• Exhibit integrity through honesty, fairness, sincerity, and a sense of justice.
• Plan and take actions that contribute to the quality of their life and life in their community.
• Engage in the democratic process through volunteering, promoting justice, and recognizing the ethical dimensions of politics, science, and conflict among nations.
• Understand the contribution of different cultures to our society.