Educational Accountability in an Era of Global Decentralization

William G. HuittValdosta State University

Last Revised: April 2006

Movement to the Industrial Age

Importance of Schooling

• Preparing a educated citizenship has never been more important

• 20th 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 http://www.safehaven.com/article-71.htm

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 20th 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

Make A Great Day!