But absolutely central to the charter idea is the notion that charters will have fewer rules and regulations about how to operate in exchange for being more responsible for results. Accountability and assessment are central issues for charter schools. Measuring student achievement must be part of any accountability plan. A federally funded study of nine public elementary schools that significantly increased the achievement of their predominantly low-income student bodies included several key recommendations. But when the discussion turns from general notions of improving achievement to specific standards of accountability, things get much more complicated.
Accountability implies consequences.
This report, along with many leading assessment authorities, urges that schools use a mixture of these three approaches to measure what students are learning. The authors hope that this overall project, and the report produced as part of the project, will help individuals working in schools and those reviewing the impact of schools. Increase contact, collaboration and cross-fertilization between charter public schools and other public school reform networks. It is far easier to ask questions than to offer answers. This is a complex area full of trade-offs.