The research advisory committee of the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics (NCTM) will sponsor a NCTM STANDARDS Research Catalyst Conference in March, 1991. The purpose of this working conference is to define and stimulate research on the perspectives envisioned by the CURRICULUM AND EVALUATION STANDARDS FOR SCHOOL MATHEMATICS and to monitor the implementation of the STANDARDS within school settings. Without a collaborative research and monitoring effort, policy actions, curriculum development, assessment reform, and pedagogical innovation may proceed without the feedback necessary for systematic modification and informed decision- making. This conference will serve to set a research agenda and to catalyze research, development, and monitoring efforts that examine intended and implemented mathematics curriculum and assessment reform across the nation by stimulating complementary study within six focus areas are: assessment, curriculum change, communication, policy, secondary core curriculum, and representation tools and models. Conference attendance will be selected by application. Special efforts will be made to include minorities, new researchers in mathematics education, mathematicians, and school practitioners in research teams directed by established leaders in mathematics education. These leaders will serve as mentors who will organize the framework and the background papers of studies to be conducted by the participants and a research agenda monograph to be distributed by NCTM. Long-term outcomes include research reporting presentations at the 1991 and 1992 NCTM Research Presessions and an interim summary of the resulting research and monitoring activities.
