Education Minister Anne Tolley has rejected suggestions parents will not be able to understand the new national standards introduced this year.
The primary teachers' union expects confusion over school reports using national standards in reading, writing and maths.
New Zealand Educational Institute president Frances Nelson says the national standards are not the same as national averages and until there is better understanding of that people will be confused.
The Ministry of Education's curriculum group manager, Mary Chamberlain, says current estimates indicate most children will achieve the standards.
An assessment expert, associate professor Alison Gilmore, says reporting performance against the national standards will be more useful for parents than using the national average.
But Mrs Tolley told Morning Report on Monday the Ministry of Education has trusted schools to come up with their own types of reporting.
Parents can talk to teachers, principals and boards of trustees if they feel the information falls short of what they need, she says.
