Introductory overview followed by presentation by 3 different approaches.

Approach A: Help students through accountability, quality testing and incentives
For too long we expected too little from our schools and we got too little in return. We need to define what students should know, test and report results. By shining the "bright light" of accountability on schools, they will change. Those who like this approach say:

• Raising standards is only meaningful if we test students' learning and attach consequences to the results
  
• State tests help identify pockets of excellence and help educators focus on what's important

Approach B: Help students by providing needed resources and supports
Standards-based reforms should hold high expectations but must also provide high levels of support for all students, teachers and education leaders to ensure that all students have opportunities to succeed. The use of "high-stakes" tests shame and blame schools without giving them the resources they need to make improvements. Those who agree with this choice say:

• Without high levels of support, standards will perpetuate, not shrink, achievement gaps between privileged and underprivileged students
• Some children start school with much greater needs than others. Standards should guide the system in applying resources to support these children.
  
• Publicly reporting student outcomes does little to turn around low-performing schools since the real issue is lack of resources, not lack of incentive, to improve.

Approach C: Help students by maintaining flexibility and local control.
While standards are important guideposts for what kids should learn, we should avoid a one-size-fits-all approach. Schools are about more than just core or basic academics. People who support this choice say:

• All kids, parents and communities are different. Therefore, we need to avoid "standardizing" schools.
  
• Schools are about more than academics; they're about letting students nurture their talents and become well-rounded adults.
  
• Standards and accountability should be driven by parents and community members who want schools to be accountable to them