Many people believe that America's public schools can be saved by instituting high standards for academic achievement. Strategies for achieving this goal are presented in this book. The text explores the standards movement, examining its importance and asking what it will take to bring every student up to high standards, irrespective of where the student starts. It is argued that a single-minded focus on achievement will dramatically change the face of education: from the kinds of curriculum materials that are used to the design of elementary and middle schools. The focus is on empowering both student and adults by giving students the gift of high expectations and by giving school professionals the information, skills, authority, and resources needed to do their jobs. A standards-based instructional system is presented as the way to achieve this transformation. Such a change, it is argued, will create a results-oriented culture with recognizable goals. It is recommended that the comprehensive high school be abandoned and that it be replaced by a system in which diplomas are earned based on standards rather than on attendance. A step-by-step plan that will help struggling students reach high standards is presented. (Includes an index.) (RJM)