Which educational standards primarily govern teaching practices during middle childhood?

The correct answer highlights that Common Core State Standards, along with state-specific educational standards, play a crucial role in guiding teaching practices during middle childhood. The Common Core State Standards establish clear, consistent guidelines about what students are expected to learn in mathematics and English language arts, ensuring that educators across various states are aligned in their instructional goals. This alignment supports equity in educational opportunities, allowing all students access to a high-quality education, regardless of where they live.

State-specific educational standards complement these core standards by addressing local educational priorities and contextualizing learning to meet the needs of the community. This dual framework helps teachers to design their curricula and assessments—ensuring that they not only meet broad national expectations but also local and diverse educational needs.

In contrast, the other options present educational frameworks that may not have widespread implementation across the middle childhood curriculum in the United States or lack the same level of specificity and alignment with state education requirements that are critical to this age group’s educational development.