BJU Press and State and National Standards

As an educational publisher, BJU Press stays current in developments in education so that we can best meet the needs of students, teachers, parents, and administrators. Since many educators reference state and national standards, maintaining an awareness of these standards is important to serve them well.

Standards and Academic Responsibility

BJU Press has a responsibility to ensure that educational products address the subject matter standards established by national and state authorities for three main reasons:

1. Standards reflect many best practices and much educational research.
2. Standards aid in college and career readiness.
3. Standards prepare students for high-stakes assessments (i.e., standardized tests and college entrance examinations).

We remember daily—and prayerfully—the joy and responsibility we have in supporting administrators, teachers, and parents in the work of Christian education.

For these reasons, BJU Press maintains strong awareness of state and national educational standards that apply to our subject areas.

Standards and a Biblical Worldview

Occasionally, some particular academic standards present a challenge to a Biblical worldview. However, with care,  it is possible to produce academically rigorous educational materials that address philosophically problematic standards while forming a biblical worldview in students and accomplish legitimate academic outcomes. BJU Press produces uniquely crafted educational resources that assist as many schools and families as possible to meet their varying educational goals, while remaining consistent with the BJU Press philosophy of education and committed to effective biblical worldview shaping.

Standards and Academic Rigor

Students’ thinking must be shaped by a biblical worldview in a way that is academically rigorous. Academic rigor is the educational experience that engages students in content appropriate to their academic level and helps them learn to analyze, evaluate, and ultimately create. We consult state and national standards and the current educational research to help BJU Press products incorporate educational best practices.

An academically rigorous learning experience doesn’t just teach students what to think; it teaches them how to think. Analysis, evaluation, and creation are critical thinking skills and are essential to 21st century teaching and learning. We want to equip teachers and parents with strategies and tools to engage students with content, instruct students in content, and develop critical-thinking skills so that students can discover the joy of learning.

Standards and Educational Technology

Relevant 21st century education requires the integration of technology, both by the teacher in instructional pedagogy and by the student in value-added learning experiences. BJU Press offers multiple technology tools to Christian educators, informed by standards for technology integration and built up on the foundation of a biblical worldview. We desire that the use of our technology tools will assist teachers, parents, and students to be more effective and efficient Christians in accessing, sorting and using information for God’s glory.