Accountability Frankenstein

Understanding and Taming the Monster

To understand the current moment in school accountability, one must understand the larger contradictions in education politics. Accountability Frankenstein provides a broader perspective on the school accountability debate by exploring the contradictions inherent in highstakes testing. Accountability Frankenstein explains the historical and social origins of testbased accountability: the political roots of accountability, why we trust test scores while we distrust teachers, the assumptions behind formulaic accountability systems, and the weaknesses with the current carrotandstick approach to motivating teachers. Accountability Frankenstein answers the questions of educators and parents who want to understand the origins of accountability. This book challenges the beliefs of fierce advocates and opponents of highstakes testing. It provides a rescue plan for accountability after the failures of highstakes testing, a plan to make accountability smart, democratic, and real.