The Problem With School Accountability Systems
This article was written by Dr. Thomas W. Payzant, a professor at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.
"The problem starts with the mistaken idea that assessment drives results. Viable accountability systems must first build capacity to improve teacher and school leader effectiveness. In seminal school reform research, Anthony Bryk and his colleagues at the Consortium on Chicago School Research liken "turning around" troubled schools to baking a cake -- five key ingredients, including school leadership and quality instruction, must interact to enable real, sustained progress. Using test results to drive teacher and leader effectiveness is akin to poking the raw batter with a toothpick. Which is why it hasn't worked and is not going to."
Be sure to read the rest of the article. It's interesting to see educated opinions from prestigious institutions. Also, it's unfortunate that educated opinions aren't influencing our nation's education system. The gut feelings of politicians and the public seem to be enough.
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