KAHALU'U — At Kahalu'u Elementary School, students know what is expected to earn a good grade, which they said is clearly spelled out in the standards that the state has adopted for all public schools.

"(Learning) is easier because you know what to do so you can study ahead of time and learn ahead of time," said sixth-grader Joshua Patberg, adding that the mystery to earning a good grade is taken away with the new standards.

Students also know what a teacher wants, said Pene Kaonohi, a fourth-grader. "I understand better. It's pretty easy."

Kahalu'u is immersed in standards-based learning and the response from the children is positive, said school principal Amy Arakaki. In every assignment and activity, the students are told what they must accomplish and how they can achieve the highest score for their work. Sometimes they get to redo an assignment to improve it, Arakaki said.

"They know up front what is expected," she said, pointing to the standards that are posted in each classroom for each subject. "And there's no such thing as averaging."

Preschoolers to sixth-grade students know what to do and must work throughout the year to receive a good final grade, Arakaki said, adding that as the school year progresses, the concepts are harder so students must build on their knowledge to move forward.

All grades are backed by a compilation of schoolwork that is kept in a binder in the student's room. The teacher's assessment is there, as are the student's self-evaluation and peer comments. And there's lots of discussion and time spent on reflecting, she said.