Little empirical evidence suggests a causal link between standards and enhanced student learning. This article defines types of standards, presents five theories of action, discusses reforms in Maine and Philadelphia, and summarizes two small case studies suggesting how standards can affect everyday student learning. (Contains 25 references.) (MLH)

Background: Approximately 1,100 education journals collectively publish more than 20,000 education research articles each year. Under current practice, no systematic way exists to move the research findings from these studies into the hands of the millions of education practitioners and policymakers in the United States who might use them.…