School and District Accountability Tools
Leaders in education recognize the importance of keeping teachers and principals as well as parents and community members informed about the quality of their schools.
In response, states have developed report cards and indices using student data as indicators of school and district performance. These indicators can include:
- Student achievement in reading and mathematics on state assessments
- Student growth, measured by year-to-year improvements in achievement
- Performance gap closure between specific student groups (for example, comparing English language learners or low income students with their peers)
- On-track to graduation/postsecondary readiness using reliable predictors of high school graduation and postsecondary success
VARC regularly consults with states, districts, and legislators around the development and refinement of school accountability measures and school report cards. In part, we assist them in translating information on school quality into easy-to-understand electronic reports and dashboards, allowing for meaningful comparisons between schools and districts. This allows states to implement a differentiated support system to reward schools, disseminate best practices, and apply appropriate interventions. It also allows communities and schools to work together to ensure every student has access to a high-quality education.