Educational Accountability in an Era of Global Decentralization William G. Huitt Valdosta State University Last Revised: April 2006

Movement to the Industrial Age

Importance of Schooling Preparing a educated citizenship has never been more important 20 th century economy –Agriculture-based –Industrial-based –Information-based

Schooling to the Industrial Age Standardization (interchangeable parts) –Outcomes (effectiveness) –Process (efficiency) Leadership (new opportunities) Management (established opportunities)

Schooling to the Industrial Age Standardization (interchangeable parts) –Outcomes (effectiveness) –Process (efficiency) Exemplified in Carnegie units & standardized testing Leadership gave way to management

Schooling in the Industrial Age High school graduation –10% in 1900 –75% in 1975 Accompanied by substantial increases in productivity

Adoption of the Automobile Source: Alexander, M. (2001). The innovation wave and secular market trends. Retrieved November 2004, from

Information-Age Megatrends Importance of technology –Computers –Internet Speed of change Global economy Customized economy Decentralization Decreased importance of manufacturing Increased importance of distribution

Decentralizaton Important decisions made at level of implementation –Standards –Curricula –Evaluation Adopt prepared or develop own Schools must demonstrate value-added Outside agencies audit performance

Customized Economy Consumers select product or service that best meet their needs Who is/are the consumer(s) of schooling? –Students –Parents –Society Making good choices requires reliable and valid data

Rapid Rate of Change Requires change in goals and activities Must simultaneously maintain or renegotiate values and principles

School Choice School choice is increasingly becoming an option for parents and students –By 2003, 25% of K-12 students in the US were not attending neighborhood public school –Neighborhood public school attendance decreased 7.5% in 10 years

School Choice Use of vouchers declining Private schools (2001) –29,273 schools –5.3 million students Homeschooling (2003) –1.1 million students Together accounted for 13% of school- aged children

School Choice Magnet schools (2001) –1,736 total schools; ~ 1.4 million students –Decline from 2400 schools and 3200 programs within schools in 1992 –Over 25 themes Business and finance Ecology and the environment Justice and the law Travel and tourism

School Choice Magnet schools (2001) –11 of 100 largest school districts have more than 20% of students attending magnet school –3 have more than 40%

School Choice Charter schools (2004) –2,996 total schools –~700,000 students; 37 states –28% increase from 1997 –73% in 10 states Arizona California Colorado Florida Michigan Ohio Pennsylvania North Carolina Texas Wisconsin

School Choice Magnet and Charter Schools –~ 4% of total enrollment Open enrollment –32 states enacted legislation –~ 4 million students; 8% of total enrollment

Accountability Accountability has always been a major challenge Four major methods of accountability –Bureaucratic –Professional –Performance –Market

Accountability Bureaucratic and Professional dominated school accountability systems throughout the 20 th century High school graduate rates increased –10% in 1900 –70% in 1975 –74% in 2003

Accountability Movement to information-age –Decentralization –Customized economy –Rapid rate of change Increased emphasis on –Performance –Choice/Market

Accountability Every school needs to have –Philosophy and identified values –Vision and mission statements –Curricula and performance standards Minimum, passing National, proficient Global, world class

Accountability Every school needs to have –Identified learning and developmental theories, methods of instruction, lesson plans, etc. –Formative/process assessment Educators Students –Summative/product assessment Qualitative Quantitative

Accountability Every school needs to have –Staff training and development –Records of Financial transactions Training and certifications of professional and non- professional staff –Method of communication with students, parents, agencies

New Opportunities Develop simple, workable approaches to strategic planning –Philosophy –Vision –Mission –Values Use technology as appropriate

New Opportunities Develop simple, technology-based approaches to developing and sharing –Curriculum standards –Performance standards –Processes of assessment and evaluation –Producing annual reports –Communicating with students, parents, and other stakeholders

Summary Diversity and choice will continue to grow Federal and state agencies should facilitate development –Curricula –Pedagogy –Accountability systems –Means of communication and networking

Summary Diversity and choice will continue to grow Teacher training institutions should facilitate –Educator training to implement different curricula –Communication and networking within their geographical area

Summary People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost. H. Jackson Brown, Jr. Life’s Little Instruction Book

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