In the continuing debate over education in the state, a new voice has emerged.
The Accountability Task Force was formed by the Michigan Association of School Boards in May and includes 21 education groups throughout the state. The group issued its final report Monday detailing who is accountable for what and to whom in Michigans public schools.
Schools cannot be held responsible solely on the basis of students scores on the Michigan Educational Assessment Program, said Justin King, the executive director of the Michigan Association of School Boards.
There is more to accountability than whether you pass certain subjects on an exam, he said.
The task force defined accountability as a set of commitments, policies and practices that define the distribution of responsibilities within Michigans public school system in ways that support continuous improvement in the performance of the education system and the achievement of all students.
By holding all parts of the education system accountable for their own part in students education, education will improve, King said.
The goal of any kind of changed activity by anybody or any group is to improve student achievement, he said. I think that what were going to be able to do is