Publications & Resources

Indicators Supporting School Quality: Lessons Learned From the United States

Dec 2012

Joan L. Herman

This paper shares lessons learned about the design and use of indicators to monitor and support the improvement of school quality. Drawing largely on the experience of the United States, the paper starts with assumptions about the nature and purpose of such indicators and criteria for judging their validity. After briefy reviewing indicators used in international comparisons, the paper concentrates on common and emerging indicators used in the United States to support school accountability and improvement, indicators that focus on student learning outcomes. The paper concludes with lessons learned about the use of indicators in school improvement.

Herman, J. L. (2012). Indicators supporting school quality: Lessons learned from the United States. Los Angeles: University of California, Los Angeles, National Center for Research on Evaluation, Standards, and Student Testing (CRESST).

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