The purpose of the Utah Performance Assessment System for Students is to provide information about how students in Utah schools are doing relative to the Utah State Core Curriculum and State requirements for school performance. Information about Utah schools is provided to help in the interpretation of the achievement information. Schools vary significantly in size, characteristics of students, faculty, staff, and facilities, and all of these factors influence how the students do. In addition , student performance is influenced by many factors outside the school environment. Nevertheless, it is the goal of the State education system that all students learn the Core Curriculum each year so that they have the fundamentals necessary for a solid academic future.