The future of America's students and teachers is a crucial challenge. Responding to this challenge, Massachusetts in 1985 enacted Chapter 188, the Public School Improvement Act, which establishes and implements a system for testing and evaluating school and student performance. Since Chapter 188 was implemented, Massachusetts schools have improved faster than the national rate. Proposals for additional school improvements have been drafted by the Commission on REACH (Rewarding Educational Achievement) and School Improvement Councils to develop programs that build on Chapter 188. They propose the following strategies: (1) further energize School Improvement Councils, which empower parents, teachers, community members, administrators, and students to make the crucial decisions that determine the improvement of their schools; and (2) expand REACH, which rewards those schools and professionals who improve the learning of their students. The following recommendations for fiscal year 1988 are made: (1) increase school improvement funds; (2) provide funds for technical assistance to Councils; (3) build expertise of Council members and provide for greater continuity in the council planning process; (4) provide start-up funds for a REACH office within the Division of Curriculum and Instruction; (5) develop criteria for future REACH awards; (6) establish a council on the measurement of student learning; and (7) authorize REACH awards beginning in fiscal year 1989. A list of Commission members, and their photographs, are appended. (BJV)