Accountability and Testing from NEA

NEA supports strong accountability of teachers, students and schools. A good accountability system uses multiple measures of progress, instead of relying solely on standardized test scores.

Accountability - A Shared Responsibility

Schools, teachers and students should all be held to high standards, and NEA believes that accountability should be shared by schools, education employees, policymakers and parents -- with the ultimate goal of helping every student succeed.

Taxpayers and parents have a right to know that their money is being spent appropriately and that schools are doing their job. However, expectations for student achievement must be in line with the investments that states and communities make in public education. Calls for raising student performance must be accompanied by additional resources for up-to-date textbooks, quality teachers and smaller class sizes.

In addition, any discussion of accountability must take into account how well state standards and expectations are aligned with -- that is, consistent with -- curriculum, instructional materials and classroom practices. After all, it's not reasonable to hold students accountable for lessons they have not been taught.

Finally, NEA believes that all schools that receive public money -- including charter schools and private schools receiving vouchers -- should be held accountable to the taxpayers and communities they serve.

[more from NEA]