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Most of us understand that we are here to stay in the age of accountability. Whereas access to education was the predominant issue of the 1950's through 1980's (Brown vs. the Board of Education, Title IX, IDEA, A Nation at Risk), since the 1990's our predominant focus has been accountability for results (OBE, the Standards-Based Reform, Character Education, NCLB). This demand for accountability isn't going away and it leads us to creating more plans and results measures than ever before.
The demand for accountability highlights a deficit in our skills, planning, collecting and analyzing data, and streamlining instructional processes. The knowledge and skills many of us received in our principal and superintendent administrative programs do not match the skills needed on the job today. Fortunately we live in a state that believes with pressure must come support.
Previous planning and reporting efforts have demonstrated these skill deficits. As a result, Iowa's Department of Education has worked relentlessly in partnership with the Area Education Agencies to provide the needed support for school leadership in meeting the challenges of planning and reporting in the age of accountability.
Be sure to stay current with the Iowa Department of Education Web site to review the documents, expectations, and processes that are required for Iowa schools.
As you organize for improvement, remember the Law of the Harvest. Improvement is hard work, the price must be paid and the process followed. You always reap what you sow. There is no shortcut. |
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