Students who are bored or inattentive or who put little effort to schoolwork are unlikely to benefit from better standards, curriculum, and instruction unless schools, teachers, and parents take steps to address their lack of motivation, the CEP papers conclude.

FORBES: Motivation Matters: 40% Of High School Students Chronically Disengaged From School

The curriculum was demanding, including instruction in English and mathematics, as well as religion.

WSJ: Bin Laden Was Nurtured in Ease, Destined for Infamy

Earlier this month, businessweek.com wrote about recent research commissioned by the Public Relations Society of America, which found that 98 percent of the 204 U.S. business leaders polled believe that business schools need to incorporate instruction on corporate communication and reputation management into the MBA curriculum.

FORBES: The Missing Link in B-Schools

They worked collaboratively by using a professional learning community protocol where they deconstructed curriculum standards, developed aligned assessments, constructed instructional units, and analyzed assessment to inform and adjust instruction based on student needs.

WHITEHOUSE: Developing an Action Plan for Success