Successful standards-based reform requires fundamental reconstruction of educational institutions and systems, so that high standards become the basis of curriculum, textbooks and other instructional materials, assessments, graduation requirements, and teacher education, certification, and training. A great failure of our public education system…

Educators who value student work that displays ingenuity and complexity must look beyond "standards" for evidence of achievement. Work of this kind requires exercise of critical judgment based on certain criteria. Applying criteria is a more complicated and intellectual enterprise than applying a standard. Developmental characteristics of…

To realize future continuous learning, thinking, and complex problem-solving goals and standards, educators must exchange content acquisition and knowledge retention as ends in themselves for more adventuresome, experiential learning strategies. Teachers will assume new roles as knowledge managers, team planners, collegial coaches, and…

The National Council on Standards and Testing's final report (1991) endorsed the concept of national education standards that reflect high expectations, provide focus, and embody a dynamic approach. Unresolved implementation difficulties include education system impact, improvement sequence, cost effectiveness, assessment purpose, multiple v.…

In the absence of national standards, we have evolved a haphazard, accidental, disconnected national curriculum based on mass-market textbooks and standardized, multiple-choice tests. This article explains former Education Secretary Lamar Alexander's efforts to ameliorate this situation by promoting America 2000, establishing the National Council…

Describes one school district's experiences setting standards for foreign-language learning. The district was one of six pilot sites involved in standards development. Participants gathered information on how the standards interfaced with state and local frameworks, items missing from the standards, and implementation of the standards.…

Presents one mathematician's view of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics national standards documents, discussing their history and highlighting specific notions, examples, concepts, phrases, and uses/misuses of the standards. Differentiates among what the standards say, what people think they say, and what teachers do in the classroom…

Discusses various views regarding the fundamental premises of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics' (NCTM) original standards documents, examining concerns expressed by key stakeholders and noting that one of the problems with the standards is that the essence of the subject is lost. Describes mathematics education reform, curriculum…

Addresses the development, content, and potential for implementation of nationally developed science education standards, including their adoption and effects at the state level, comparatively analyzing three sets of publications that provide national standards for science education. The role of assessment in setting standards is discussed.…

Interviews with over 200 parents, educators, and students examined the impact of efforts by the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) to impose high school course standards. The article describes a growing national challenge to NCAA policies and procedures that have delayed or blocked many high school students from participating in…

Offers historical background on some of the National Communication Association's past involvement in K-12 education. Describes the process used to develop the K-12 standards for speaking, listening, and media literacy. Gives an overview of the present effort to articulate competency statements for each standard. (SR)

Critiques a study comparing National Board for Professional Teaching Standards-certified teachers with those who were unsuccessful in their efforts. Results found that National Board Certification made a difference. This paper suggests that after considerable cost and time, the fundamental question remains unanswered: is the National Board's…

Describes a Standards-based activity entitled "The Limits of Learning" that is inquiry-based and designed for high school biology classes. The activity concerns how well repetitious material can be learned and improved upon. (YDS)

Presents the case for a consensus-driven approach to setting subject matter standards for history education. The author argues that the National History Standard Project, designed to broaden the scope of U.S. and world history education, has carried out the original intent of its funders, rejected one-sidedness, and achieved a compromise that…

Suggests the need for incentives to help combat the resistance or indifference regarding implementation of the national standards for foreign language learning at the university level, especially in upper division courses at large research universities. (Author/VWL)