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Refining Statewide School Accountability Systems: Lessons from Innovative State Approaches under ESSA

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Title: Refining Statewide School Accountability Systems: Lessons from Innovative State Approaches under ESSA
Language: English
Authors: Mitch Herz, Mel Wylen, WestEd
Source: WestEd. 2025.
Availability: WestEd. 730 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1242. Tel: 877-493-7833; Tel: 415-565-3000; Fax: 415-565-3012; Web site: http://www.wested.org
Peer Reviewed: N
Page Count: 50
Publication Date: 2025
Intended Audience: Policymakers
Document Type: Reports - Research
Tests/Questionnaires
Education Level: Elementary Secondary Education
Descriptors: Educational Legislation, Elementary Secondary Education, Federal Legislation, Educational Improvement, Accountability, Educational Change, Educational Policy, Educational Quality, Alignment (Education), State Policy, Program Implementation, School Districts, State Government, Government Role, Change Strategies, Program Evaluation, Educational Practices
Geographic Terms: Ohio, Utah, Nebraska, Kentucky
Laws, Policies and Program Identifiers: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
Abstract: Over the past two decades, federal education policies such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) have sought to improve school performance through accountability systems. As states emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, many began exploring ways to expand accountability beyond ESSA requirements. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that the traditional federal framework may not fully capture the complexity of student learning and school performance in today's educational landscape. This white paper documents how states are rethinking and refining their accountability systems to better align improvement efforts with student outcomes. It highlights innovative approaches adopted since ESSA's enactment, explores lessons learned from four detailed case studies, and identifies promising practices that can guide both state and federal policymakers with the goal of fostering more flexible accountability systems nationwide.
Abstractor: As Provided
Entry Date: 2026
Accession Number: ED677595
Database: ERIC
FullText Text:
  Availability: 0
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  Data: Refining Statewide School Accountability Systems: Lessons from Innovative State Approaches under ESSA
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mitch+Herz%22">Mitch Herz</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Mel+Wylen%22">Mel Wylen</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22WestEd%22">WestEd</searchLink>
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  Data: WestEd. 730 Harrison Street, San Francisco, CA 94107-1242. Tel: 877-493-7833; Tel: 415-565-3000; Fax: 415-565-3012; Web site: http://www.wested.org
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  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Ohio%22">Ohio</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Utah%22">Utah</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Nebraska%22">Nebraska</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Kentucky%22">Kentucky</searchLink>
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  Data: Over the past two decades, federal education policies such as the No Child Left Behind Act and the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) have sought to improve school performance through accountability systems. As states emerged from the COVID-19 pandemic, many began exploring ways to expand accountability beyond ESSA requirements. These efforts reflect a growing recognition that the traditional federal framework may not fully capture the complexity of student learning and school performance in today's educational landscape. This white paper documents how states are rethinking and refining their accountability systems to better align improvement efforts with student outcomes. It highlights innovative approaches adopted since ESSA's enactment, explores lessons learned from four detailed case studies, and identifies promising practices that can guide both state and federal policymakers with the goal of fostering more flexible accountability systems nationwide.
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  Data: 2026
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  Data: ED677595
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=eric&AN=ED677595
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Languages:
      – Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 50
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Educational Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Elementary Secondary Education
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Federal Legislation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Improvement
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Accountability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Change
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Quality
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Alignment (Education)
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Policy
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Program Implementation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: School Districts
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: State Government
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      – SubjectFull: Government Role
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      – SubjectFull: Change Strategies
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      – SubjectFull: Program Evaluation
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Educational Practices
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      – SubjectFull: Ohio
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Utah
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Nebraska
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Kentucky
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Every Student Succeeds Act 2015
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: Refining Statewide School Accountability Systems: Lessons from Innovative State Approaches under ESSA
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            NameFull: Mitch Herz
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              M: 09
              Type: published
              Y: 2025
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