To create a world-class education system, DoDEA has developed rigorous and demanding curriculum standards. The curriculum standards specify what students should know and be able to do. DoDEA curriculum standards are based on the content standards produced by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, the National Council of Teachers of English/the International Reading Association, the National Research Council's National Science Education Standards and the National Council for Teachers of Social Studies.

Standards are important because they set high levels of learning and performance for all students. The standards also serve as a basis for assessment across the curriculum. They focus on what is important in each curriculum area.