Why Accountability to Fed-u-crats Is Damaging Student Achievement

When the concept of accountability burst upon education policymaking in the latter half of the 20th century, it sounded like a good idea.  It went something like this:  If the government gives the public schools money, it should be able to expect something in return showing that the public schools warranted the money, not just an audit report showing that the money was spent in allowed categories (e.g., ƒpersonnel, supplies, administration). The concept was implicit in the 1994 re-authorization

When the concept of accountability burst upon education policymaking in the latter half of the 20th century, it sounded like a good idea.  It went something like this:  If the government gives the public schools money, it should be able to expect something in return showing that the public schools warranted the money, not just an audit report showing that the money was spent in allowed categories (e.g., ƒpersonnel, supplies, administration). The concept was implicit in the 1994 re-authorization…