” Performance as a False Promise of Accountability: The Case of American Schools “, paper prepared for presentation at Vienna Workshop on Achieving School Accountability in Practice, University of Vienna, Austria, February 15th – 17th 2006.
AI-Generated Summary:
This document critically examines the promises and limitations of school accountability in the context of governance and education policy.
The Promises of Accountability
- Accountability is linked to ideals like justice, performance, democracy, and ethics.
- These promises are rooted in Enlightenment values that emphasize reason and human potential.
Critical View of Accountability Mechanisms
- Accountability is a condition of being governed, not a tool; it relies on individuals’ sense of answerability.
- Policy tools like performance measurement and transparency aim to foster accountability but often lack empirical support.
Limitations of Policy Instruments
- Instruments such as performance measures and decentralization are intended to improve governance but can produce paradoxes and unintended harm.
- The rhetoric of accountability often becomes the desired outcome rather than a means to real improvement.
US School Accountability History
- Historically, American education debates focused on access, curriculum, pedagogy, and governance, with limited emphasis on accountability.
- The 1983 “A Nation at Risk” report marked a shift toward accountability, emphasizing standards and testing to improve school performance.
Types of School Performance Assessments
- Low-stakes, soft assessments were common; high-stakes, high-standard tests emerged with policies like No Child Left Behind.
- The current focus on high-stakes testing aims to improve performance but faces issues like score inflation and unintended consequences.
Skepticism About Performance Promises
- Evidence linking accountability to actual improvements in teacher or school performance is weak.
- Experts acknowledge that accountability systems mainly activate existing governmentality rather than directly causing better outcomes.
Broader Implications
- The global obsession with accountability reflects a desire for justice, transparency, and ethical behavior.
- However, the reliance on rhetorical promises often masks the lack of effective policy tools and empirical support for these promises.
Education Accountability Frameworks
- Emphasize effective assessment and accountability programs in schools.
- Highlight case studies like Philadelphia’s model.
Urban School Governance and Leadership
- Explore leadership and institutional structures in city schools.
- Focus on Pittsburgh, Boston, and St. Louis.
Education Reform and Policy Challenges
- Discuss historical failures and reform efforts.
- Address issues like corruption and policy effectiveness.
Democratic Accountability and Justice
- Examine accountability in democracies and transitional justice.
- Cover concepts of moral truth and historical injustice.