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Keystone Policy Center and FutureEd Release New Report on Modernizing School Accountability
In the evolving landscape of public education, how we define and measure school success matters more than ever. For decades, school performance systems in the United States have centered largely on standardized test scores—especially in math and reading. But this narrow approach has significant limitations, both in what it tells us and in how it shapes educational outcomes.
That’s why Keystone Policy Center partnered with FutureEd on a groundbreaking new report: Quality Check: The New, Best Way to Measure School Performance. This report offers a comprehensive rethinking of school accountability, proposing a more balanced and sophisticated system for evaluating how schools are serving their students.
Why Change Is Needed
The current model of test-based accountability emerged from well-intentioned reforms over the past two decades, such as No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). While these laws pushed for greater transparency and equity, they also placed outsized weight on standardized assessments—often reducing school quality to a single summative score.
This approach fails to capture the complex, multidimensional nature of learning environments. It has led to unintended consequences, including:
- A narrowed curriculum that sidelines subjects like science, social studies, and the arts.
- Overemphasis on test preparation.
- A lack of actionable information for school improvement.
- Disincentives for collaboration and innovation.
What a Better System Looks Like
Quality Check identifies and explores promising alternatives that are already taking root in school districts and states across the country. It draws on extensive research, real-world examples, and stakeholder input to recommend a more comprehensive performance measurement framework.
Key Elements of the New Framework
Multiple Measures of Success
Performance should reflect more than proficiency on standardized tests. The report advocates for systems that incorporate:
- Student growth over time
- School climate and culture
- Chronic absenteeism
- Access to advanced coursework
- Postsecondary readiness
- Access to resources
Disaggregated Data
Measuring subgroup performance is critical to identifying and addressing opportunity gaps. Quality Check underscores the need for disaggregated metrics that illuminate disparities across race, income, language, and ability.
Local and Contextualized Insights
School quality is experienced at the local level, and communities deserve data that reflects their realities. The report encourages systems that empower educators and families with clear, relevant, and actionable information—not just accountability labels.
Transparency with Purpose
Accountability systems must not only identify low-performing schools—they must also support improvement. That means investing in tools and technical assistance that help schools respond to performance data in meaningful ways.
Real-World Momentum
Several states are already moving in this direction. The report highlights examples from places like:
- California, which has developed a dashboard system including chronic absenteeism, graduation rates, and college/career readiness.
- Illinois, where school climate surveys are incorporated into annual ratings.
- Massachusetts, which emphasizes student growth percentiles alongside achievement.
These efforts show that shifting away from test-only measures is not only possible—it’s already underway.
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