Broader, Bolder Approach to Education issues Statement

The Broader, Bolder Approach to Education's Accountability Committee recently released its report containing specific policy recommendations on educational accountability.

The report has been receiving a pretty good reception.

Secretary Duncan asked BBA to elaborate recommendations in several follow-up memos. Thus far, BBA has submitted memoranda on the expansion of state-level NAEP, on how discretionary stimulus funds could be used to develop state level qualitative school accountability systems and support other goals of the Broader, Bolder Approach, and on the cost of state qualitative accountability systems, and a submission to the Department of Education by BBA co-chair Helen Ladd, commenting on the Department's proposed regulations for distribution of stimulus "Race to the Top" funds.

Recently, BBA Accountability committee members Linda Darling-Hammond, Dennis Van Roekel, Richard Rothstein, and Diane Ravitch promoted the BBA report at the National Journal's web site, as part of an on-line discussion regarding whether independent auditors are needed to prevent the gaming of test score results.

Media coverage has been mostly positive.

Michael Petrilli on the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation web site, called the BBA accountability proposals "eminently sensible."

See an interview with BBA Accountability Committee Co-chair Susan B. Neuman on Education Week's on-line blog, "Living in Dialogue."

Interviews with BBA Accountability Committee Co-chair Christopher Cross and committee member Diane Ravitch on the Learning First Alliance web site, "Public
School Insights."

A 40-minute video summary of the committee's February 26 public presentation has been posted on the BBA web site. A full list of committee members appears at the end of the report.

In developng the report, the BBA has been overtly bipartisan, conducting briefings with Secretary of Education Arne Duncan; Democratic and Republican staff from both the Senate and House Education Committees; Roberto Rodriguez, President Obama's special advisor on education; Gene Wilhoit, Executive Director of the Council of Chief State School Officers; and leaders of both the National Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers.