This report describes efforts by Achieve, Inc. to raise standards and reduce the achievement gap. In 2001, Achieve expanded its efforts to benchmark standards and accountability policies across the states, focusing on three states at the forefront of standards based reform (Maryland, Massachusetts, and Texas), while continuing to examine the quality and alignment of standards and tests. The report focuses on the following: state progress on higher academic standards (e.g., national mathematics performance improved substantially during the 1990s, and the public is behind the agenda of standards, assessment, and accountability); comparing standards to the best in states and other nations (examining policy impact, standards and assessment, and making diplomas matter); states working together to raise achievement (e.g., the Mathematics Achievement Partnership); Achieve's standards database; and Achieve's provision of public leadership to help sustain the movement to raise standards and achievement (e.g., the 2001 National Education Summit, efforts to provide public leadership and advocacy, and national forums). (SM)