Summarizes the 1996 National Education Summit at Palisades, New York. Contents: (1) "A New Initiative in the Battle for Standards"; (2) "Perspectives and Observations on the Summit" from participating governors, chief executive officers, educators, standards writers, and textbook publishers; and (3) "Clearinghouse 'Entity' is Key to Summit Success." A sidebar contains "Extracts from the Policy Statement of the National Education Summit." (BEW)