The purpose of this article is to examine how the relationship between comprehensive school reform (CSR) and state accountability systems helps or hinders school improvement efforts. This article draws on case study data collected in schools in 3 states that received funding to implement reforms through the federal CSR program. Findings show that…

This "Report Card to the Public" is published in accordance with Alaska Statute 14.03.120 for the school year 2012-2013. Under state law, each school district is required to report information about its plans and performance to its community. This report includes a statewide summary of performance results. Public knowledge of the school…

The Massachusetts Department of Education's Accountability and Targeted Assistance (ATA) Center maintains and manages the state's School and District Accountability System. Results from the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) are used to identify public schools and districts that are likely to require state intervention in order…

A response to criticism by researchers House, Rivers, and Stufflebeam published in the June Kappan. (Editors)

This report describes the national Office of Economic Opportunity (OEO) performance contracting experiment and three of its local programs. It also briefly outlines one state-level development in performance contracting. In the OEO experiment, 20 school districts were selected to represent diverse geographic settings; the common elements of the…

This paper provides, in summary form, a discussion of the central issues arising from an examination of State Accountability Workbooks prepared for Peer Reviews through the U.S. Department of Education (ED) and subsequent approval discussions made by ED. These issues have their genesis in requirements set forth under the No Child Left Behind Act…

Accountability is an issue of high visibility, high priority, and great controversy in the social work profession today. The authors try to show what accountability is about, where the profession falls short, and what might be done. (Authors)

Priorities and procedures for making California schools fiscally and educationally accountable. (RA)

Describes the concept of "adequate yearly progress" as defined by the No Child Left Behind Act and discusses some of the psychometric issues it raises. Examines scaling as a means to equate tests when assessing educational gains and recommends vertically moderated standards over vertical equating of state assessments. (SLD)

This report by the Center on Education Policy (CEP), an independent nonprofit organization, examines trends in the achievement of high school students on the state reading/English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests used for accountability under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). In most states, these tests are first administered in grade…

Colorado's Educational Accountability Program was instituted to help schools raise educational quality, to expand student life opportunities, and to provide assistance in comparing the value of school programs with their cost. This program rests on the premise that when a local district and its citizens set educational priorities, design a plan,…

Prior to 1971, a local district's eligibility to participate in Michigan's Compensatory Education Program was established on the basis of socioeconomic deprivation of the student body, the state legislature mandated the kind of expenditures that were allowable, and school district eligibility was determined annually. In 1971, the state board of…

The concept of accountability held by the Florida Department of Education is discussed. Their concept places a premium on clear thinking regarding educational values, on open communication between the public and the professionals, and on explanation of the manner in which resources available are used. The distinctions and relationships among the…

Problems encountered during the implementation of a statewide educational accountability plan in Mississippi are typical of those reported in the literature. This article reviews the development of the plan, the direction of implementation process has taken, and proposals for the future. (PGD)

State legislatures have demanded hard figures on what their dollars are producing in the schools. Today, 43 states have some sort of assessment program. (Author/MLF)