States seeking waivers under the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act are hoping to replace what is widely considered an outdated, but consistent, school accountability regime with a hodgepodge of complex school grading systems that are as diverse as the states themselves. That's the picture that emerged from an "Education Week" analysis of…

Discusses a proposal to make compulsory education accountable in terms of a nationally accredited system of statements of expected attainments at age 16. Suggest establishment of teams to evaluate students as to their adherence to these standards. Journal availability: see SO 507 081. (KC)