Public distrust in schools should not be attributed to poorer schools or less able students; it exists because we have a different kind of parent and a different world ahead. Parents of today's children were trained not to accept the status quo, but to question; furthermore, underlying parents' concern about the schools is a fear that their children will not have a better life than they did. Parents want to be informed of school goals, evidence for their attainment, and action plans for unsuccessful areas. Parents should be sent all test scores and play an active role in report card design and format. Citizens of the school district are entitled to a year end progress report which would list and evaluate accomplishment of the year's goals and suggest goals for the following year. The report would include test score results, score comparisons beyond the school district, and a follow-up study of recent graduates. Before implementing minimal competency testing as a means to accountability, some caution is necessary. Are such tests valid measures of basic skills? How will they affect students who score below or far above the minimum? Most importantly, does mastery of basic skills ensure a productive job that will provide security, status, happiness, and fulfillment? (Author/CP)