Called to Account

One of the Architects of the Educational Theory Behind NCLB Has Mixed Feelings About How His Ideas Have Been Applied.

By Samantha Stainburn

Think politicians never keep their campaign promises? Douglas Carnine knows better. The soft-spoken University of Oregon education professor, a longtime advocate for data-driven school reform, helped develop then-presidential candidate George W. Bush’s education platform four years ago, including his promises to increase school accountability. Now those promises, found in the No Child Left Behind Act, are law. They’re also the centerpiece of President Bush’s education record as he campaigns for reelection.

Carnine, who press reports say became a Republican while advising the president-to-be, is sitting this campaign season out. But he continues to promote the idea of holding schools accountable for student performance as director of the University of Oregon’s National Center to Improve the Tools of Educators, an institute that looks for opportunities to move education research into policy and practice. Teacher Magazine talked to Carnine about accountability as punishment, the mistakes that were made in implementing NCLB, and why he thinks school accountability is here to stay no matter who wins the 2004 presidential election.

Q: Are there misconceptions about school accountability that you regularly run into?