Educational Accountability
Acknowledging the current accountability debate of whether or not it is discriminatory to measure disaggregated student achievement, President Bush responded, "It is discriminatory not to measure, because guess who gets shuffled through the system? Guess who just gets shoved through? It's generally children whose parents don't have money. It's generally minority kids. We're just going to move them through, and hope they come out okay in the end. Well, they don't come out okay in the end" (The White House, 2003).
The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Act has required states to implement a system that holds schools and districts accountable for the academic achievement of all students. For the first time, educators have been challenged to provide—through annual state report cards—statewide assessment data that is disaggregated by race, income, and other criteria to reveal student performance. With this kind of information, educators have the data they need to be able to identify and, more importantly, address the needs of low-performing students.
While the legislation creates a unique opportunity for educators and empowers parents with information about the quality of their child's school, complying with the accountability component of the NCLB Act can be challenging for educators and policymakers. The North Central Regional Educational Laboratory (NCREL) has compiled an extensive list of resources to help bring understanding and capacity to the issue.
Reference
The White House. (2003, September 9). President Bush discusses the No Child Left Behind Act in Florida [Press release]. Retrieved September 18, 2003, from
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030909-3.html
Educational Accountability Resources from NCREL
- Critical Issue: Guiding Principals—Addressing Accountability Challenges
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/educatrs/leadrshp/le600.htm - Create a Clear and Focused Accountability System
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/envrnmnt/go/go2acc.htm - Accountability: How to Achieve It
http://www.ncrel.org/cscd/pubs/lead31/31accoun.htm - Measuring Accountability
http://www.ncrel.org/cscd/pubs/lead31/31measur.htm - Convincing Districts to Be Productive
http://www.ncrel.org/cscd/pubs/lead31/31convin.htm - Accountability Models
http://www.ncrel.org/sdrs/areas/issues/ content/cntareas/science/sc3model.htm
Additional Resources
- President Bush Discusses the No Child Left Behind Act in Florida
(White House press release)
http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2003/09/20030909-3.html - Stronger Accountability: Questions and Answers on No Child Left Behind
(U.S. Department of Education Web page)
http://www.ed.gov/nclb/accountability/schools/accountability.html - Education Department Issues Final Regulations for No Child Left Behind Act: Regulations Cover Title I, Accountability, Parental Options, Teacher Quality (U.S. Department of Education press release) http://www.ed.gov/news/pressreleases/2002/11/11262002.html
- Statewide Educational Accountability Under NCLB: Central Issues Arising From an Examination of State Accountability Workbooks and U.S. Department of Education Reviews under No Child Left Behind of 2001
(Council of Chief State School Officers publication)
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/ StatewideEducationalAccountabilityUnderNCLB.pdf - Accountability/Testing
(National Education Association Web page)
http://www.nea.org/accountability/ - Testing the Testers 2003: An Annual Ranking of the State Accountability Systems
(Executive Summary of Princeton Review survey)
http://www.princetonreview.com/footer/testingTesters.asp - A Guide to Effective Accountability Reporting: Designing Public Reports that Effectively Communicate Accountability, Assessment and Other Quantitative Education Indicators in an Easily Understood Format
(Council of Chief State School Officers publication)
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/GEAR.pdf - Illinois Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.isbe.state.il.us/nclb/pdfs/account_workbook.pdf - Indiana Accountability System for Academic Progress
(Indiana Department of Education Web site)
http://www.asap.state.in.us/ - Indiana Department of Education Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://paris.doe.state.in.us/ downloads/indianaworkbook010603.doc - Iowa Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.state.ia.us/educate/ecese/nclb/doc/csaaw03.pdf - Michigan Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/ NCLB_Michigan_Accountability_Workbook_Revised_63716_7.pdf - Minnesota Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.ccsso.org/content/pdfs/MNworkbook.pdf - Ohio Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.ode.state.oh.us/accountability/ PDF/1-17-03%20SBE%20ACC'T%20REDE.pdf - Wisconsin Consolidated State Application Accountability Workbook
http://www.dpi.state.wi.us/dpi/esea/pdf/wiaw.pdf
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