Holding public schools accountable for student achievement has attracted increasing attention in the last few decades. In particular, current education reforms have encouraged the use of test-based accountability systems as a mechanism to enhance both transparency and the quality of education. This has been the result of acknowledging the effects of public education in different socio-economic domains. This chapter describes the use of performance measurement systems to gauge school outcomes and makes a distinction between assessment and evaluation. Likewise, it provides the reader with a historical background on the administration of standardized tests and, posteriorly, explains how the Colombian public school system works. The discussions conclude by detailing common criticisms associated with the school measures. 

Michiko Sakaki

Papers

Implementing Performance Measurement Systems to Hold Public Schools Accountable for Educational Quality