From the journal issue: "State leaders have long viewed the selection of curriculum and materials as local decisions that fall outside the state policy orbit. Yet state learning standards and classroom materials often do not align, creating inequitable opportunities for all students to master state standards. Through a variety of policies, states are increasingly seeking to increase the adoption of high-quality curriculum. A handful are requiring or encouraging schools and districts to adopt quality curriculum and gearing professional learning toward using quality materials to improve student achievement. Authors in this issue draw lessons from these varied state strategies and encourage state leaders to apply what they have learned from the successes in improved reading and math curriculum to other critical subject areas."