Where to Begin

In using this Toolkit, perhaps the most difficult task will be determining where to begin. The Toolkit contains four sections of more than 100 possible strategies, policies, information and other resources to help reach the goal of benchmarking to international standards.

First, read the original International Benchmarking Blueprint, as well as the Introduction, Purpose and How Does the United States Compare? components of the Toolkit.

Second, do a self-assessment of school, district or state readiness in moving toward international benchmarking.

While you can start in any section of the Toolkit and with any tool, you will want to determine what will yield the best, fastest or most needed result at this point in time and build on the strengths of your current system.