By Gov. Jeb Bush, Chairman, ExcelinEd
This op-ed originally appeared in The 74
In education, sometimes the most important things are the least glamorous. Student assessment and school accountability rarely make headlines the way new spending proposals or sweeping initiatives do. No fireworks. No standing ovations.
However, if state leaders are serious about improving outcomes for students, they need to make sure their policy plates are filled with the right solutions. Accountability is the broccoli on that plate. It may not be the first thing you reach for. You might not want to go back for seconds. But despite what my dad used to say, you need to eat it.
Accountability leads to positive student academic progress through consistent implementation. When I was governor of Florida, we worked to put in place a comprehensive accountability system built on clear standards, annual assessments, school grading, real consequences for persistent failure and financial recognition for success.
It wasn’t the most popular thing my administration did, but over time, the approach created a culture of transparency and responsibility. Florida parents understood how their child’s school was performing, educators had clearer expectations and policymakers had the data they needed to make informed decisions.
