Accountability without Angst? :

In this article, Frederick Hess discusses public opinion trends related to educational issues from the enactment of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) in 2002 through 2006. Using data from three separate public opinion polls, Hess analyzes the general public’s and parents’ opinions on several issues, including the proper use of large-scale assessments, the appropriateness of punitive action for failing schools, the place of school choice, and the responsibility for closing achievement gaps across groups. Among many important findings, the author determines that NCLB has had little effect on the public’s general opinion of public schools; that there is little public support for the sanctioning of struggling schools; and that while the public feels that schools should not be blamed for existing achievement gaps, schools should be responsible for closing them. He concludes with a discussion of implications for policymakers and practitioners.

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Frederick M. Hess is director of education policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute and executive editor of Education Next. His many books include Educational Entrepreneurship: Realities, Challenges, Possibilities (2006); No Child Left Behind: A Primer (2006); and With the Best of Intentions: How Philanthropy Is Reshaping K–12 Education (2005). His work has appeared in publications including Urban Affairs Review, American Politics Quarterly, Social Science Quarterly, Teachers College Record, Educational Policy, Phi Delta Kappan, The Washington Post, and Education Week. He is a former high school teacher and professor of education.