Accountability

Everyone's chanting the word hoping to invoke its magical powers. But who's doing anything real to bring the word's meaning to life?

Like other words imbued with magical powers, the more it's used, the less it means. Even worse, it means different things to different people.

Here we'll try to get beyond the voodoo charms, the alchemist's incantations, and the metaphysics of accountability. Thanks to the efforts of the very smart people at Education Week, a 200-page report on the state of the states' education efforts was published in January 1999. Its focus: accountability.

STATE BY STATE

We Californians have a lot to learn from the efforts of others who are much farther ahead. Encouraging signs of progress can be seen in Tennessee, Massachusetts, Texas and New York. Come catch a glimpse where the status quo is giving way to improvements.

TEACHERS

They're accountable now, but in what ways, and to whom? Some California districts have programs in place that are working. And some states have persuaded or compelled principals and teachers to deliver results the public wants. Read what's happening at the edge of the possible.

ATTITUDES

New research from Public Agenda indicates strong differences of opinion between educators and the public. Here's where conflict is sure to occur.

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