In 2010, Blue Sky Consulting Group estimated the potential impact of the federal Race to the Top education reform program on California's K-12 curriculum standards and instructional materials costs. For this study, we developed an inventory of state programs and expenditures from 1996-2009 related to curriculum reform and instructional standards. We then assessed how participation in the program could affect the state's curriculum and budget flexibility and instructional material adoption schedules as well as costs for instructional materials, staff development, and student assessment.