Yardsticks Vary by Nation in Calling Education to Account

Assessment also looms large in countries other than the United States, while strategies range from high-stakes student exams to on-site school inspections

By Erik W. Robelen

Ten years ago this month, President George W. Bush signed into law the No Child Left Behind Act, setting the stage for a new—and more aggressive—phase of accountability in American education.

The United States isn't alone in promoting accountability in elementary and secondary education. The notion in recent years has become a global phenomenon among nations looking to improve their school systems.

What accountability practices look like in other countries, however, varies considerably, from publicly reporting school results on assessments to conducting school inspections and administering high-stakes "gateway" exams that play a big role in determining students'...