As a result of the National Commission on Excellence in Education report and other recent studies, an increasing number of governors and state legislators have sought to establish new requirements and minimum standards statewide. Addressing the potential threat that these requirements represent to local school boards in their efforts to maintain control over curriculum policies, this issue's lead article emphasizes the board's responsibility to keep as much control as possible by reviewing its own policies, clarifying its goals and practices, keeping informed, developing new courses, establishing an ongoing evaluation, ensuring effective policy implementation, and informing state regulators of the particular needs of the local community. (JBM)