This executive summary of the National Educational Goals Report 1996 serves as a barometer of the U.S.'s progress toward the National Education Goals defined in early 1990. This year's report, sixth in a series of annual reports planned through the year 2000, focuses on standards and assessments, two areas of educational reform which are currently of interest to state and local communities. The report also updates information reported in 1991-1995 to indicate changes since the baseline reporting year whenever additional data has become available. Part 1 of the summary takes each of the national goals and highlights a few key findings in that area since 1991. Part 2 answers frequently asked questions about setting standards and creating assessments at the state and local level and provides knowledge so that parents and students can actively participate in discussions and the decision making process in their communities. Examples of challenging state assessment programs and activities from Maryland, Connecticut, and Kentucky are given. Part 3 outlines the U.S.'s progress since the baseline year on a set of core indicators in each National Education Goal area. Overall, the Goals Panel stresses that it will be impossible to achieve the National Education Goals unless states and local communities demand more from their students by setting rigorous standards for student achievement and by designing new forms of assessment to determine whether students have mastered challenging subject matter. (MAK)