Introduction

Demands for accountability are widespread across American society, including in elementary and secondary public education. In recent years, four trends point to a growing role for different accountability types: an emphasis on student outcomes monitored through administrative accountability, the important role of teachers and professional accountability, the broader political context and political accountability, and the growing role of school choice and market accountability. Three levels of federalism – national, state, and local – offer different political arenas in which accountability types develop and evolve. Administrative accountability is prominent across all three levels, but particularly dominant at the national level. The other accountability types are present across state and local levels, with professional accountability most evident at the local level. Educational accountability is an important tool to help improve education, which is critical to address challenges facing the country today.