As a Christian educator, you've no doubt seen the news about the Common Core State Standards Initiative for public schools, sponsored by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers.

A part of this initiative, supported by President Barak Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan's platform for educational reform, seeks to create a national uniform standard for achievement. As a requirement to participate in a national competition for public funding, forty-eight states elected to adopt the standards which outline what children in grades K-12 are expected to learn in mathematics and English.

This raises the question, "How will common state standards affect Christian or other religious schools?" Perhaps this initiative will not affect them at this point. However, this "standards" talk should make us look what standards are at Christian schools. Certainly, all Christian educators strive to achieve high academic achievement and a positive, well-rounded educational experience.

As Christian educators, our standards aren't the same as others' are. In fact, the mission of a Christian school is ultimately to lead students to the Lord, along with fostering students to build life-long relationships with Christ. "Ye are the salt of the earth..." says Matthew 5:13a. Christian schools exist for an uncommon goal; they exist for His Kingdom.

Christian standards aren't measured by what the government mandates or what the world thinks, but according to what God has commanded in His word. It's good to have reminders about standards but to look at them in the Lord's perspective. As the Apostle Paul says in Romans, "Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified." (Romans 8:30).

Educators in Christian schools reach for a higher standard. Indeed, their calling is a standard uncommon to this world, to serve Him in all faithfulness and for His glory.

What are your thoughts on standards and Christian schools? Share your comment below.