RE: What does accountability mean?

I appreciate Senator Alpert's comments. I am an adult ed teacher, a mother of a high school senior, and a graduate of two California universities. The short answer to her question is: appropriate, timely and (when possible) non-punitive interventions following poor or no performance by any given person or group in education. I think rather than focussing so much time, effort and money on often unsuccessful interventions for students, we should first address the (non) performance of *adults* in the education system. For example, the school district I pay taxes for and to whose schools I have sent my son for 11 years is terribly mismanaged. The FCMAT team assigned to my district can only address technical financial issues (and the FCMAT folks whom I have listened to at school board meetings are not skilled, or trained, in explaining these issues in layperson's language.) The school board is not trained to carry out their weighty responsibilities, nor, often, do they even seem motivated to conduct compentently the board meetings, come prepared, etc. Adults who do not adequately teach, administer, direct the school district, counsel, or provide security or other services in our schools must be evaluated, warned, mentored or otherwise trained, and if nothing else avails, removed from their duties. When people know that there exist reasonable and timely consequences for their behavior, they will usually do the right thing. Often they will be *grateful* for the intervention. Sometimes they will turn themselves around and become exemplary and be able to mentor others. One more thing: being "busy" -- the ubiquitous excuse -- is NO excuse. It takes less time to do things right than it does to fuss -- and to fail. Improve adults' performance first, and the children's will follow.