Diane Massell is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Michigan's School of Education, Ann Arbor. She has conducted numerous studies of national, state and district policies, focusing particularly on the development and use of standards and assessments.   This line of research has led to publications on standards agenda-formation, data use, district capacity, assessments and accountability. Her most recent publication is "Building District Capacity: The Interplay of District Management, Designs and Environment", with C. Barnes and C. Vanover (in review).  In addition to her work on elementary schools and their environments for the Study of Instructional Improvement, she is currently conducting research on high schools with the University of Pennsylvania. Her career has centered broadly on the impacts of government education policies and their influence over schooling practices. She received her Ph.D. in Administration and Policy Analysis from Stanford University in 2000.