The Source

Accreditors dig deep into data on all aspects of performance. We review key documents and plans, and conduct detailed surveys, interviews, and observations of crucial aspects of schooling that affect student learning. We spend multiple days on site and get a glimpse, up close and personal, of what is working... Read the full article >

Over the past 60 years, we as a nation have sought to improve our education system and focus on equity, excellence, school choice, and standards and accountability.[1] Each wave of reform has been led by different combinations of leaders and stakeholders: government officials, educators, parents, and activists (focused on equity);... Read the full article >

Section 9 of 10. America must be courageous and create a system of accountability that is not punitive but instead is learner centric and focused on continuous improvement. In this system, failure is an opportunity for learning and collaboration. Outside forces do not dictate action. Local improvement measures (about school... Read the full article >

Section 7 of 10. Instead of modifying or improving on existing systems, states should take the opportunity under the Every Student Succeeds Act to acknowledge lessons learned, wipe the slate clean and envision a forward-thinking education system. Defining Purpose and Direction To map out the parameters of a new system,... Read the full article >

Section 8 of 10. Not long ago, California used test scores as a single measure to identify progress, but policymakers sought to eliminate the state’s Academic Performance Index (API) system. When lawmakers adopted a new funding system, the state contracted with a research organization to develop new measures and rubrics.... Read the full article >

Section 2 of 10. It empowers policymakers to take a critical look at all aspects of the school that influence learning by requiring public reporting on outcomes and opportunities to learn for all students, including per-pupil expenditures, access to rigorous coursework, and measures of school climate. More importantly, the law... Read the full article >

Section 4 of 10. Though continuous improvement processes are not new in education practice, they are relatively new in the state policy arena. In the past, state-level strategies for improving educational outcomes at the school and system levels were driven by federal and state requirements and centered largely on the... Read the full article >

Section 5 of 10. Accountability systems should be designed to emphasize equilibrium, balancing school responsibility to do what states require with state responsibility to provide needed resources and support in schools.[7] An accountability system also needs to recognize that schools are multifaceted organizations, shaped by the interplay of any number... Read the full article >

Section 6 of 10. Key features include: Learning supports (materials and professional development) for the continuous improvement of curriculum, teaching, assessment and student support strategies; Information systems for keeping track of what schools and districts are doing and to what effect; Ongoing review of school and district efforts and outcomes,... Read the full article >

Under the era of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) accountability, too much focus was placed on a single measure—student assessment. Rather than sparking higher performance for all students, schools focused on low-performing students, and federally mandated sanctions were used to punish students and teachers alike. The performance gap widened as... Read the full article >