Studies by the Northwest Regional Educational Laboratory found that similar problems exist in Alaska and Idaho. Solving the problem is crucial. Charter schools typically have a time limit of three to five years for achieving what they have promised. If authorizers don't see the benefits, they may decide to revoke a school's charter. The more a school can demonstrate quantifiably that it is making a difference, the better.
Charter schools are well aware of the issue.
An informal survey by Charter Friends National Network in early 1998 found accountability to be their top priority. One obvious way to measure charter schools, at least in the eyes of those outside the movement, is with state and national tests. Even some backers of charter schools say such tests complement the schools' aims because both the tests and the schools emphasize performance-based accountability. But most charter schools see obvious problems with the world of high-stakes, nationally standardized tests. By relying on traditional tests, schools risk skewing instruction to match the tests.