From the 1980s to the present, educational accountability in the United States has grown dramatically. Such accountability in U.S. school districts, although driven primarily by external demands, has internal manifestations as well. The chapter traces the historical development of internal evaluation in American school districts, then highlights…

The history and accomplishments of the National Education Goals Panel (NEGP) are traced from the Education Summit in Charlottesville (Virginia) in 1989 when President Bush and 50 state governors agreed to set education goals for the nation. The goals were announced in February 1990, and the NEGP was formed in July 1990 to issue annual reports on…

The 1990s show distinct changes from the 1960s in terms of the views held by education practitioners, policymakers, and the public concerning the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). Developments such as the national education goals, the prospect of voluntary national education standards, and the possibility of a national system of…