Sobering though it is, Beyond Standards is essential reading, especially for those of us who see the implementation of high-quality instructional materials as a promising lever for improving student outcomes. Not all readers will agree with Polikoff's proposed solutions, but his diagnosis of the problem is spot-on. — Michael J. Petrilli, president, Thomas B. Fordham Institute

In Beyond Standards, Morgan Polikoff argues that standards are inherently too vague to enable teachers to arrive at a common or accurate understanding of what they need to teach or to identify the right materials for teaching it. — Education Next

Beyond Standards is thoughtful, well written, and quite clear in its bias for more uniform schooling. An excellent companion for classroom discussions alongside, for example, Diane Ravitch’s Slaying Goliath. — Choice Magazine

Beyond Standards lays out a powerful critique of the macro forces that prevent us from achieving our education goals. This volume offers a coherent and well-evidenced diagnosis of the problem and outlines a promising avenue for change at the state and district level. We hope that readers who are convinced by Polikoff’s framing of the problem and proposed solution will be moved to research such questions to begin advocating for change. — Teachers College Record