Rochester Unveils `Shared Accountability' Plan

By Deborah L. Cohen

The superintendent of the Rochester, N.Y., schools is winning applause from teachers and community leaders for advancing an ambitious set of goals for the 35,000-pupil district.

The four-year, 29-point plan, unveiled last month, sets benchmarks not only for schools to raise student achievement, but also for business and community partnerships to improve student safety, health, and access to scholarships and jobs. It also calls for an independent "community round table" to help monitor the plan and issue annual progress reports.

"We have a design for shared accountability that wasn't featured in previous reforms in the district," said Superintendent Clifford Janey, who was the chief academic officer of the Boston schools before taking the...