Accountability in public education describes how states and communities ensure that schools are effectively using public dollars to meet their students’ needs.
Public school quality is usually measured by student performance (e.g., test scores), but can also include measures of transparency and community satisfaction.
The specific ways in which states hold public school districts and charter schools accountable vary based on (1) who oversees school performance, (2) which state level rules and regulations govern school operations, and (3) which schools are authorized to operate.
