Schools Chiefs See a Path to Proposing Their Own Accountability Systems

View Article Here (New York Times)

This article indicates that Arne Duncan and his aides have "signaled" that some states will be able to create their own accountability measures for schools as a sort of waiver to the proficiency provision of NCLB. Though this action is not by any means set in stone, it seems that state educational leaders have expanded their senses of possibilities in terms of what it is possible and desirable to do in their schools. Leaders in Indiana, for example, would be interested in exploring ways to ensure that the lowest 25% of every school is making gains and holding schools accountable for that growth. In Delaware, education officials are interested in experimenting with language immersion programs and summer programs in math, science, and engineering. Many of these states, in fact, have developed these accountability measures alongside NCLB provisions, and are working to meet both sets of requirements.

Maryland officials were not included in the article, so I could only imagine what might happen in classrooms if the MSA Finish Line books were packed up and stowed away. As a middle school language arts teacher, I would hope that practical measures would be used to assess writing across the entire state starting in elementary school. In general, I would like to know that my students have a working knowledge of computer technology before graduating from high school. Figures such as the number of students sitting AP exams and the graduation and attendance rates of individual schools could also be used to hold these schools accountable for rigor and engagement in the classroom. Still, action is yet to be taken, and it is possible that waivers will be granted only to states that agree to pursue specific reforms.