An Education Review Office (ERO) report has found about 80% of a sample of New Zealand primary and intermediate schools are making good progress implementing National Standards.
The report is the first in an ongoing series which evaluate the readiness of schools to implement National Standards, which came into effect at the beginning of 2010.
The first evaluation was undertaken in 228 schools in terms 1 and 2 this year.
About a dozen of the schools were in Otago.
It found preparation to implement the standards was under way in about 60% of the 228 schools, and almost 20% were already well prepared.
The report also found 75% of the schools had used outside support to help them understand and use the standards - the most frequent being professional development workshops and cluster meetings.
Education Minister Anne Tolley welcomed the report.
"The standards have only been in place since February, but this report clearly shows that the vast majority of schools are working hard to implement them in a professional and positive way."
Mrs Tolley said she expected the percentage of schools making good progress in implementing National Standards would be "even better now", given that many of the schools were evaluated towards the beginning of the first term, when the standards had only just been introduced.
She said ERO's recommendations were also very helpful, and the ministry would be following up with the 20% of schools which still needed support to work constructively with the National Standards, to raise achievement for all students in reading, writing and maths.
"It's extremely encouraging that 75% of schools have so far taken advantage of external support and we will ensure that tailored professional development continues to be available."
However, New Zealand Educational Institute president Frances Nelson said the report was already outdated.
It was based on school reviews carried out in terms 1 and 2, and the landscape had changed significantly since then, she said.
"Many schools undertook professional training and struggled to get towards minimal compliance with the standards in terms 1 and 2.
"But that picture is changing as more and more schools see the flawed reality of implementing standards that are not tested, have major design flaws and have been implemented with haste and without support from the sector."
She said the next report could paint a very different picture.
Further evaluations will focus on how schools use the standards, and how they report to parents.
ERO expects to report again in 2011.
