The Comprehensive Accountability System, such as that implemented by the Milwaukee Public Schools, includes three separate tiers. For each of these six indicators, schools can earn from zero to ten points based on their achievement of the goals established by the Board of School Directors. These high goals are the same for every school in the district. In these indicators, each school has identified its own unique antecedents of excellence. These indicators reflect the diversity of the district.
Some schools choose to focus on technology, staff development, discipline, or parental involvement.
All schools, however, choose these indicators so they can improve their performance on the system-wide indicators. For each of these five indicators, schools can earn from zero to ten points based on their improvement from the previous year. The third tier is a narrative description of the challenges and opportunities facing the school. This page-long narrative allows the reader to better understand the test scores and other data that are contained in the first and second tiers. The Comprehensive Accountability System creates balanced incentives, encouraging all schools to meet uniformly high standards while at the same time allowing each individual school to pursue goals that are uniquely relevant to its needs.