Despite the hoopla that accompanies each year's release of standardized test scores, there's no single way to know whether your child is learning what he needs to be successful. To get a complete picture of what your child is learning, you need to consider a variety of measures of academic achievement, including report cards, test scores, teacher comments and samples of your child's work.

Examine Your Child's Work
One of the best ways to find out what your child is learning is to examine the schoolwork he has done. Many schools now require students at all grade levels to compile work samples into a portfolio which may contain essays, artwork, math problems, and even videos and PowerPoint presentations.

A careful look at the quality of your child's work, and the teacher's assessment of it, will tell you a great deal about the expectations the teacher and school have for academic achievement. To find out if these expectations meet those of the district and state, ask the teacher for a copy of the academic standards for your child’s grade level and subject. You can find grade-level standards for grades 1 through 3 on Grade Tracker on GreatSchools.net. (You can also find these standards on your state Department of Education's Web site.)

You will discover a lot about what your child is learning in school by talking with him. Can your child give you detailed information about what he is studying? Can he explain, for example, certain concepts the class is learning in math or science? Read out loud with your child, listening for how fluently he reads sentences and decodes unfamiliar words. Once you’ve finished reading, check his comprehension. Can he summarize what he’s read and explain what it means in his own words?

Finally, evaluate your child's attitude toward school. If your child is excited about what he is learning in school, it's likely that he is indeed learning a lot. Be careful to distinguish between being “excited about school” and being “excited about learning." Some children love the social aspects of school but aren’t engaged academically.

Use Standardized Test Results Wisely
For objective information about your child’s achievement, standardized tests are a good resource. Tests that are based on state standards ("standards based" or "criterion referenced") are generally more informative than those that are based on a national comparison ("norm referenced"). Standards-based test results are usually reported in terms of whether your child meets state standards, while norm-referenced tests give you a percentile rank that shows how well your child did compared to his peers nationally.

Comparing your child’s test results to his grades and teacher's comments will give you a good idea of how close the school’s expectations are to those of the state. If his grades are high, but his test scores are low, the school may be using lower standards to judge whether your child is on track for his grade level.

Monitor Elementary School Progress
If your child is in elementary school, meet with the teacher at least twice a year (in the fall and spring) to discuss academic progress. In the fall, ask the teacher to go over the year-long plan so you know what the teacher expects children to master by the end of the year. How will the teacher gauge your child’s progress towards these goals? If your child is falling behind, how will he let you know? Find out if the teacher has noticed any learning issues that will need to be addressed or any talents that can be encouraged. Ask for specific ideas on how you can support your child’s learning at home.

You'll also want to ask the teacher about your child's social skills and work habits. Is your child able to work with other children? Does he stay on task, or does he need frequent reminders to concentrate on studies? In the spring, check to make sure your child is on track for promotion to the next grade.

Stay Involved in Middle School and High School
As students enter the middle school years of sixth, seventh and eighth grade, they increasingly need to take control of their own learning. This means organizing their assignments, seeking out help when needed and having the self-discipline to complete work thoroughly and on time. Demonstrating this kind of independence and initiative is even more important for high school students, who are but a step away from full adulthood.