Principles and Standards for School

Principles and Standards for School Mathematics is intended to be a resource
and guide for all who make decisions that affect the mathematics
education of students in prekindergarten through grade 12. The recommendations
in it are grounded in the belief that all students should
learn important mathematical concepts and processes with understanding.
Principles and Standards makes an argument for the importance of
such understanding and describes ways students can attain it. Its audience
includes mathematics teachers; teacher-leaders in schools and districts;
developers of instructional materials and frameworks; districtlevel
curriculum directors and professional development leaders; those
responsible for educating mathematics teachers; preservice teachers;
school, state, and provincial administrators; and policymakers. In addition,
the document can serve as a resource for researchers, mathematicians,
and others with an interest in school mathematics. Principles and
Standards has been produced by the National Council of Teachers of
Mathematics (NCTM), an international professional organization
committed to excellence in mathematics teaching and learning for all
students.
The NCTM had previously produced a landmark trio of Standards
documents—Curriculum and Evaluation Standards for School Mathematics
(1989), Professional Standards for Teaching Mathematics (1991), and Assessment
Standards for School Mathematics (1995). These three documents
represented a historically important first attempt by a professional organization
to develop and articulate explicit and extensive goals for teachers
and policymakers. Since their release, they have given focus, coherence,