Adding Value

In the new Washington Monthly, Ed Sector’s Toch takes a look at value-added accountability. He makes the case about the shortcomings of the current No Child Left Behind provisions (though notes that they were what was at hand considering the state of play in 2001 in terms of what states could do) and argues forcefully that value-added measurements, if integrated with the absolute standards that No Child forces states to set, provides a better way.

It’s obviously a good way to go looking forward at the next generation of these policies but for now pragmatism intercedes…most states have a lot of work to do before they can actually do this and technical issues still abound. And, the question remains, when it comes to actually displacing adult interests in chronically under-performing schools, is the problem one of measurement or political will?