How to Strengthen School Accountability

Count me among those who applaud the new guidance from the U.S. Department of Education on enforcing fair access to critical educational resources. For far too long and in far too many places, the deck has been stacked against students of color: fewer experienced teachers; less instructional time; fewer teaching resources; antiquated technology. It’s long past time that we turn these patterns around and deliver on the American promise.

But unless the secretary of education takes advantage of the opportunity he will have later this month to reverse an ill-fated decision he made three years ago, there is great risk that schools and districts will get the wrong message: that low achievement for some groups of children doesn’t matter so long as resources are equal. Not a legacy, I suspect, that either the secretary or his boss wants.

Read the full column, “Driving for Equity – in What?” here.