National Standards and School Science and Mathematics

We explore the relationship between national standards as policy recommendations and the transformation of those recommendations into programs for school science and mathematics. We provide a brief introduction to national standards, propose a strategic framework for standards‐based reform, and offer a discussion of specific challenges associated with the improvement of contemporary science and mathematics education. A set of features common to the NCTM and the NRC standards is described. The strategic‐framework focuses on dissemination, interpretation, implementation, evaluation, and revision. Challenges include implementing school programs for all students, understanding inquiry and problem solving; thinking differently about curriculum; increasing instructional effectiveness; and aligning assessment strategies with standards.