News: News Archives Educators Discuss Challenges to Implementing
New Standards The "No Child Left Behind Act" of 2001 encourages
states to develop and implement content and performance
standards and to align their tests with those standards.
Implementing that directive has not been easy, however, as was
illustrated in a series of case studies presented at a recent
AAAS conference. "For many states, achieving alignment has been
difficult," according to Ann Caldwell, research associate at
AAAS's Project 2061, a nationwide initiative to improve K-12
education in science, mathematics and technology. "Case studies
show the problem is more severe in science than in mathematics."
At a 3-day conference, 15 - 17 May, AAAS convened state
education officials-those responsible for setting statewide
standards-and curriculum developers, textbook publishers, and
national policymakers to confront a range of issues that are
critical to the education reform process. Presenters used case
studies from several school districts to