The goal of this guide is to provide information, support and practical tools that may help educators design, implement, and evaluate their school's standards-based education program. In order to work, a comprehensive, standards-based educational program must, by definition, be the organizing structure upon which the school program operates. Moreover, research suggests that the focus of operations within a standards-based program should be instruction and instructional improvement. This guide talks about the essential components of such a program--the pieces that experience has shown must be in place, though the means of getting them in place can and should vary. It also discusses resources--funds, people, and time. Throughout each chapter educators are referred to tools and out-takes within the text and in the appendices. Some of these are vignettes from the field--the actual experiences of schools or districts doing this work and facing challenges very similar to those faced by Abbott districts. It is hoped that this guide will be a useful tool as educators move forward and try to make the most of the opportunities Abbott offers. A bibliography is included. The following are appended: (1) Philadelphia's Children Achieving Challenge; (2) Evaluating the "Fit" of Your Whole School Reform Model; (3) Instructional Facilitator Activity Report Guide; (4) NYC Community School District 2; and (5) Classroom Observation Guide. (Contains 9 footnotes.) [Support for this resource guide was provided by the Victoria Foundation and the Schumann Fund for New Jersey.]