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The student is at the center of this system and all others have key roles and responsibilities in designing and delivering the very best educational environment possible for students.

The participants in the internal circle are closer to the student and carry a much more visible and direct responsibility -- teachers, principals, parents, superintendents and district staff, local boards of education, and the citizens of the community.

The external circle -- state superintendents and state boards of education, teacher and administrator preparation institutions, legislators, and governor -- may be further removed, but they cannot escape the fact that they, too, have important obligations in creating the supportive environment and building the capacity of students, faculties, and schools to meet the performance expectations demanded under a strong accountability system.

The present accountability system overlooks a number of other players who have significant impact on the day-to-day operations of schools and those who work in them.

Each of us must be aware that we share in the responsibility for accountability, and the success or failure we have in executing our roles, both individually and collectively, will in large measure determine the success or failure of our schools.

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