This resource text was developed to assist parents, teachers, school administrators, school board personnel, and other concerned citizens in their efforts to develop and implement local education standards. Having drawn heavily upon Internet-accessible resources for the development and implementation of educational standards, the text is intended as a stand-alone resource for those without easy access to a computer and the Internet or as a resource which the Internet can supplement. After the Introduction, Section II, entitled "Rationale," provides full-text policy statements and position papers about the necessity of standards from various agencies and associations. Section III, entitled "Guidance/Resources," names and describes general and governmental resources, centers, clearinghouses, and organizations which offer products and/or expertise to support decision making about and implementation of standard setting efforts. Section III also provides full-text or excerpts of five authoritative pertinent documents, as well as a sub-section entitled, "Standards and Frameworks by State." Section IV, "Implementation and Assessment," offers overviews of state policies and practices for upgrading academic standards, including a section on the role of state education agencies. Finally, Section V covers "Examples of Local Schools/School Districts Adopting Education Standards." (Contains 8 figures and 15 tables.) (LMD)