We need to dramatically expand our information base by introducing new evaluation schemes. Evaluation has become controversial because most people equate it with standardized tests. But the public shouldn't judge a school based on standardized tests alone. When properly instituted, a value-added system may find out that some schools with high average scores are really contributing very little to students' performance. We believe that school reform can and should be accomplished while holding real resources constant.
Schools simply have to learn to become more disciplined.
He was chairman of the Panel on the Economics of Educational Reform. Further reproduction or distribution is prohibited without permission.