Some critics of our nation's schools argue that the equity agenda has eroded the excellence agenda. This argument asserts that since our schools cannot reach all children, the primary effort should concentrate on meeting the needs of the most capable. Critics charge that teacher education has failed to equip teachers to reach all students without sacrificing one group for another. The current inclusion practices for students with special needs in regular classrooms is another factor that is forcing this agenda. Standards appear to hold promise as a mechanism to spark renewal in society and in public education.
Standards promise to restore the social order both in schools and in teacher education programs.
They clarify what students should know and be able to do in a given curriculum. Simply stated, standards provide the guidelines around which instruction should be designed because they define the content knowledge and skills that practicing professionals believe learners need. In this regard, standards promise mastery of subject matter whether it be in a content field or in pedagogy. If the dream were to be fully realized, standards promise excellence for all students through the efforts of better teachers. If teachers have the knowledge and skills needed to help all students attain high and rigorous standards, then students must be ready to move on to the next level of competence.