Despite persistent demands from some quarters to downgrade accountability in the school system, there has been a recent sea-change in our attitude towards measuring results. More and more practitioners in the field are recognizing the value in possessing the information which makes them central to the process of change. They are welcoming assessment practices which provide feedback to validate the results of their efforts and guide planning for future progress.
Schools are about student achievement.
Carefully chosen assessment instruments give governments, districts, schools and teachers access to data which can help them further student success. Accountability mechanisms prompt actions in response to that information. Accountability reinforces a climate of high expectations where all students are expected to learn successfully. When results matter, a wider array of strategies is employed to assist disadvantaged students and resources are allocated to students needing the most help. Increased Professional Autonomy With performance feedback data in hand, individual schools can make informed decisions about practices and strategies to achieve future learning gains against desired standards.