Organizational Improvement and Accountability: Lessons for Education from Other Sectors

Describes accountability models in the manufacturing, job training, legal, and health care sectors; summarizes their effectiveness; and draws specific lessons for educators. Examines five accountability models–two from the manufacturing sector; a performance incentive model used in the evaluation of job training programs for the poor; accountability in the legal sector; and accountability in health care as shown by clinical practice guidelines, use of statistical risk-adjustment methods, and the public reporting of health performance measures. The authors summarize the models’ effectiveness and draw lessons for implementing the No Child Left Behind Act.