ABSTRACT
This chapter deals with the fundamental metrics of the neoliberal school reform model and how the carefully constructed metrics lead to an extreme narrowing of the conversation about school reform that precludes discourse about social justice and democratic ideals. Educator evaluation via the pseudoaccountability reaches the upper limit of high-stakes consequences when we consider the latest application of the flawed reform metrics by the newly created Council for Accreditation of Education Preparation (CAEP), an organization strongly dominated by the neoliberal establishment. No Child Left Behind (NCLB) may be seen as the point where neoliberalism melded with neoconservatism to give birth to the current school reform system and formalize the false proxy of the numbers game. The mantra power of school reform slogans as no excuses, high standards, and accountability is hegemonic power that is used to sedate the public to preempt any questioning of the legitimacy, validity, or credibility of accountability claims.
