In 2001, at the request of the Massachusetts Department of Education, Achieve conducted an evaluation of the state's K–12 mathematics standards and grade 10 Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests in English language arts and math. The state's English language arts standards weren't analyzed because Achieve believes these are already among the best standards in the nation and uses them as "exemplary standards" against which other states' standards are compared.

The results showed that Massachusetts has made substantial progress in developing and implementing two essential components of standards-based reform — strong standards and assessments that measure what the standards expect. The evaluation's major findings:

Overall, Massachusetts' standards and high school tests are of high quality and are aligned, providing a solid foundation on which to build a state education policy. This sets Massachusetts apart from the other nine state standards and assessment programs that Achieve has reviewed — it is the only state that has both strong standards and strong assessments.

The grade 10 tests are rigorous yet reasonable — and are, in fact, the most challenging of the exit-level tests Achieve has reviewed.

The math standards generally are well organized, jargon-free, clear and precise.

The report also contained two recommended improvements for the state to consider as it moves forward in implementing its system for standards-based educational improvement. First, the MCAS high school tests included relatively minor flaws that should be fixed in subsequent rounds of testing. For example, the math test emphasized some standards at the expense of others, and the English language arts test needed more emphasis on nonfiction. Second, the math standards should require more rigor and depth, attention to and emphasis on mathematical reasoning, and a sharper focus on essential content at each grade level.

Massachusetts has stayed the course on reform and has seen achievement steadily rise for all students in the state.