The Student Achievement Accountability Committee (SAAC) of the San Diego (California) City Schools was formed to make recommendations concerning accountability in relation to the district's objective of closing the student achievement gap. The SAAC was formed in 1990 with representation from school administrators, parents, and teachers. The SAAC arrived at a definition of accountability as a system of commitments, policies, and practices to ensure good instruction and provide information about education. Consensus was reached on guiding principles for student achievement accountability, and an accountability policy was established. Consensus was also achieved on major constituents of the accountability system, including standards, related assessments, recognition and intervention, reporting practices, and guidelines for practice. Recommendations were made to adopt the definitions and guidelines reached by the SAAC, with specific recommendations for 10 demonstration schools to provide leadership models for accountability systems and negotiations with school employee organizations to enhance accountability practices. Six appendixes present background material, an application process for demonstration schools, and some documents for the accountability process. (SLD)