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RLA Home Designing a System Elements of a System District Practices Table Index Local Systems Fed & State Systems Resources |
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Download the full description in PDF (54kb) A state accountability system is necessary but likely not sufficient to drive continual improvement in schools within a district. The district and each school must have a local system of accountability that builds internal responsibility and empowerment to continually explore the best practices that will help all students reach high standards. The local accountability system incorporates several purposes and types of decisions that define individual and collective responsibilities, and nurture individual and team learning for both adults and children. Standards-Based Accountability A standards-based accountability system defines roles of responsibility and processes for:
The local accountability system includes the state assessment results with local standards-based assessment results to provide rich information for data-based decisions. Local assessments provide quick and frequent data for decisions within and across years. State assessments provide annual data for judging school and district effectiveness, and bolster confidence in local results when there is agreement between local and state results. Educators in some schools and districts remark that they do not have time to reflect on results because they are too busy implementing. The question is whether they are making progress toward a measurable, clear goal of high-quality education for all students or just maintaining the status quo. Educators in districts and schools making sustained, meaningful improvement ensure time and build capacity as an organization continually learning from results. In a standards-based accountability system, the district judges and continually improves its actions to guide and support schools in areas such as:
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