To comply with official state regulations, public school districts in Massachusetts must establish minimum standards for reading, mathematics and writing by September 1980, and for listening and speaking by September 1981. The standards must apply to three grade levels: early elementary, late elementary, and secondary. Parents, teachers, administrators and the public should be involved in their establishment. Districts must evaluate achievement at least one grade per level. Choice of instrument is optional for elementary grades; grades 7-12 must use state-developed, commercial, or locally-developed but state-approved tests. An annual report including number and percentage of failures by race, sex, and linguistic minority is required, beginning in 1980-81. Regulations at the secondary level are more stringent: districts must specify plans for remediating failures, and obtain state approval for their program, upon recommendation from a regional education council. Similarly, secondary level standards are specified in detail by subject area. State regulations determine whether transfers, special education students, and linguistic minorities should be exempt. Achievement of standards is not a graduation requirement. An advisory board will recommend standards for consideration by school districts. (CP)