Before the 19th century there were very few standards for education. A person's ability to receive an education was directly based on their status in life and their ability to pay for private tutors or private academies. Of course this only applied if you were male and white because women, blacks, and other immigrants were not simply discouraged from receiving an education, but in most cases were expressly prohibited from receiving one. In the second part of the 19th century the situation changed in some ways. Many realized the importance of education for all, regardless of gender or race, and education was seen as a way to bring greater equality among the masses, as well as a way to “Americanize” immigrants and others.” outsider” of society. Public school education was introduced, offered free to every child. These public schools would be accountable to local, state, and national boards, and specific standards and requirements would be established regarding testing, attendance, and curriculum. Establishing national standards for education allows for equal educational opportunities for all students. While teachers once set their own standards, a common standard for both teacher curriculum and student instruction has been established to keep instruction consistent at all levels. The standards provided a clear vision of what each student should learn at different levels of their education, such as universal subject requirements and level testing. Teachers once had the position of simply teaching what they knew and sometimes learning alongside their students. With standards, teachers must be educated and trained in their subjects and have a good understanding of their state's standards. They must also leave… middle of the paper… officials and other educators agree that standardized curriculum, instruction, and assessment are pertinent for our nation to keep up with or exceed the educational standards of other countries, so as being a fundamental part of maintaining an educational system that is fair, challenging and, above all, available to all. Works Cited1. History of Education in America 2008, http://www.chesapeake.edu/library/EDU_101/eduhist_20thC.asp2. Implementation of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment Standards, 2008 - http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/science/sc300.htm3. Standards and Curriculum Overview 2008, http://www.edsource.org/edu_sta.cfm4. Integrating Assessment into the Learning Process 2008 - http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/content/cntareas/science/sc3asses.htm5. Standards-Based Reform, 2008 - http://www.aft.org/topics/sbr/curr.htm