This paper describes progress, challenges and opportunities of using policy to advance educational equity and excellence at scale in the United States. It begins with a look-back that examines two key elements of the standards-based education (SBE) era: First, it traces policy shifts and implementation challenges of the SBE era. Second, it examines student achievement trends over 30 years, with particular attention to learning outcomes for Black, Hispanic, and students from low-income backgrounds. The paper then provides a landscape analysis of key stakeholders that are actively engaged in shaping, guiding, developing and implementing educational improvement efforts. The landscape analysis also identifies those who have not been adequately involved but should be going forward, such as grassroots and community leaders, parents, teachers and students, particularly from people of color. To conclude, the report recommends bringing together a cross-section of diverse stakeholders from key educational sectors--such as policymakers, community-organizers, practitioners and researchers, students and families--to form a multi-year listening and learning community that engages in a series of field-based learning experiences. The learning engagements would allow stakeholders to consider strategies to: (1) broaden the vision of youth development; (2) build supports for equity; and (3) bolster community engagement.