The goal of the standards movement has been to improve student outcomes for all children regardless of their backgrounds or risk factors. The focus has primarily been on the instructional, program or performance standards. Paramount importance has been placed on what children will do to demonstrate that they have learned. While important, there is another ingredient in achieving positive student outcomes. What teachers do and how they do it is critically important and has a profound impact on the quality of the educational experience for children. This paper presents the seminal work of the Center For Research On Education, Diversity and Excellence (CREDE), one of the twelve federally funded research centers on education. Its findings, summarized in five critical elements of effective pedagogy, demonstrate that when consistently implemented the result is greater student outcomes across the curriculum regardless of age, and higher academic test scores regardless of the student population. Application in early childhood education settings is also discussed.